Is the A-10 aircraft still in service?
The A-10 was designed around the 30 mm GAU-8 Avenger rotary cannon. With a variety of upgrades and wing replacements, the A-10’s service life can be extended to 2040; the service has no planned retirement date as of June 2017.
Is the A-10 discontinued?
Despite multiple efforts to push the iconic A-10 Warthog’s retirement date further into the future, the U.S. Air Force is now slated to shelve dozens of the Cold War-era ground-attack planes in the upcoming fiscal year, according to the service’s budget request.
Why is the A-10 obsolete?
The A-10 is obsolete because it’s an air frame built around a cannon. The cannon is heavy, and the ammo is heavy. For all that weight the ammo runs out somewhere between 12 and 20 seconds. The most efficient way to destroy things on the ground is with guided missiles and bombs.
How far can an A-10 fly?
The aircraft has a long range (800 miles), high endurance and can loiter in the battle area. The manoeuvrability at low speed and low altitude (below 1,000ft) allows accurate and effective targeting and weapon delivery over all types of terrain.
What are they replacing the A-10 with?
OA-X is seen as half of a two airplane solution for eventually replacing the A-10 Thunderbolt. OA-X is a smaller, cheaper plane that would thrive where the air defense threat is limited to shoulder-fired missiles and machine guns.
How many A-10 shot down?
seven Warthogs
(Many returned to base almost unflyable, but only seven Warthogs have ever been shot down or crashed due to combat.)
Is the A10 Warthog still good?
The U.S. Air Force has decided to keep the A-10 “Warthog” close air support jet in service until 2040. The jet, designed to dominate Cold War battlefields, will still be flying 50 years after the collapse of the Soviet Union. That’s the good news.
How accurate is the A-10?
The GAU-8/A accuracy when installed in the A-10 is rated at “5 mil, 80 percent”, meaning that 80 percent of rounds fired will hit within a cone with an angle of five milliradians; this equates to a 40-foot (12-meter) diameter circle at the weapon’s design range of 4,000 feet (1,200 m).
When did the A10 enter service?
The A-10 was designed for close air support (CAS) of friendly ground troops, attacking armored vehicles and tanks, and providing quick-action support against enemy ground forces. It entered service in 1976 and is the only production-built aircraft that has served in the USAF that was designed solely for CAS.
What is an A10 plane?
The Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II is a single-seat, twin turbofan engine, straight wing jet aircraft developed by Fairchild-Republic for the United States Air Force (USAF). It is commonly referred to by the nicknames ” Warthog ” or ” Hog “, although the A-10’s official name comes from…
When was the A10 made?
Two YA-10 prototypes were built in the Republic factory in Farmingdale, New York, and first flew on 10 May 1972 by pilot Howard “Sam” Nelson. Production A-10s were built by Fairchild in Hagerstown, Maryland.
Where are A10 Warthogs stationed?
Some USAF A-10 “Warthogs” are stationed in Poland. 354th EFS (Expeditionary Fighter Squadron ) has deployed again to Poland. This time the A-10s maintain their presence at the Polish 32nd Air Base located in Łask, near Łódź, in the central part of the country.