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Line 1: − + + − − Planners in the US Air Force had long felt that the A-10 was no longer useful in combat and would be unable to survive against modern air defenses. Plans had called for the A-10 fleet to be gradually retired and replaced by the F-16 during the 1990s. However, the A-10 soon proved its worth during [[Operation Desert Storm]] in 1991 when the Warthog was credited with destroying over 1,000 [[Iraqi]] tanks, 1,200 artillery pieces, and 2,000 other vehicles. Two A-10 pilots also shot down Iraqi helicopters over [[Kuwait]] during the conflict. − − Though the A-10 fleet was again in jeopardy of being retired during the late 1990s, its subsequent service in the wars in [[Afghanistan]] and Iraq have again given the attack plane a new lease on life. Many of the surviving aircraft are being upgraded to the A-10C standard under the Precision Engagement program. This upgrade includes updating the software and cockpit displays of older A-10 aircraft so they can carry the latest generation of guided weapons. − − Over 700 examples of the A-10 were originally built for the US Air Force. Many have since been transferred to the [[Air National Guard]] and [[Air Force Reserves]] or retired from service. As the A-10 fleet has been retired, many have been offered for sale to several foreign nations.
Remove copyvio material from http://www.aerospaceweb.org/aircraft/attack/a10/
[[Image:A-10_Thunderbolt.jpg|thumb|right|250px]]
[[Image:A-10_Thunderbolt.jpg|thumb|right|250px]]
[[Image:A-10_30mm.jpg|thumb|right|250px|A closeup of the business end of the 30-mm cannon.]]
[[Image:A-10_30mm.jpg|thumb|right|250px|A closeup of the business end of the 30-mm cannon.]]
The Fairchild-Republic '''A-10 Thunderbolt II''' (so named in honor of the WWII era Republic P-47 Thunderbolt) resulted from a [[United States Air Force]] requirement for a rugged attack plane to provide close-in support of ground troops using advanced guided munitions. Carrying one of the most powerful guns ever placed on an aircraft, the 30-mm cannon fires "milk-bottle-size rounds" at rates of 2,100 or 4,200 shots per minute. The A-10, also known as the Warthog, is extremely rugged and designed to fly with one engine, an entire tail fin, or even part of a wing shot completely off the plane. The A-10 also provides further protection against ground fire by encasing the cockpit and the ammunition drum for the cannon within a [[titanium]] "tub." Though able to operate guided missiles and bombs using a laser-designator pod under the nose, the avionics installed aboard the A-10 have remained simple for greater dependability.
The Fairchild-Republic '''A-10 Thunderbolt II''' was named in honor of the WWII era Republic P-47 Thunderbolt.
Although the A-10 can carry a considerable weight of disposable stores, such as the standard AGM-65 Maverick missile or "Paveway" laser-guided bombs, its primary built-in weapon is the General Electric 30 mm GAU-8/A Avenger Gatling gun. The weapon is one of the largest and most dangerous aircraft weapons known, and primarily fires depleted uranium shells, but can be modified to fire high-explosive rounds as well. The damage caused by the explosive shells firing prematurely due to impact of an explosive shell would be catastrophic to the aircraft and pilot. It is for this reason that a great deal of effort has been taken to protect the 5 ft wide, 9 ft long drum. There are many plates of differing thicknesses between the skin and the drum. These plates are called trigger plates because when an explosive shell hits a target it first penetrates its armor, then detonates. As the drum has many layers of thin armor, the shell's detonation is triggered before reaching the drum. A final layer of armor around the drum itself protects it from fragmentation damage. The entire apparatus sits inside the titanium tub protecting the pilot from anti-aircraft fire. The gun is loaded by Syn-Tech's linked tube carrier GFU-7/E 30mm ammunition loading assembly cart. This vehicle is unique to the A-10 and the GAU-8.
Although the A-10 can carry a considerable weight of disposable stores, such as the standard AGM-65 Maverick missile or "Paveway" laser-guided bombs, its primary built-in weapon is the General Electric 30 mm GAU-8/A Avenger Gatling gun. The weapon is one of the largest and most dangerous aircraft weapons known, and primarily fires depleted uranium shells, but can be modified to fire high-explosive rounds as well. The damage caused by the explosive shells firing prematurely due to impact of an explosive shell would be catastrophic to the aircraft and pilot. It is for this reason that a great deal of effort has been taken to protect the 5 ft wide, 9 ft long drum. There are many plates of differing thicknesses between the skin and the drum. These plates are called trigger plates because when an explosive shell hits a target it first penetrates its armor, then detonates. As the drum has many layers of thin armor, the shell's detonation is triggered before reaching the drum. A final layer of armor around the drum itself protects it from fragmentation damage. The entire apparatus sits inside the titanium tub protecting the pilot from anti-aircraft fire. The gun is loaded by Syn-Tech's linked tube carrier GFU-7/E 30mm ammunition loading assembly cart. This vehicle is unique to the A-10 and the GAU-8.
The A-10 is one of the multiple aircraft designs scheduled to be replace by variants of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II (Joint Strike Fighter). <ref>A-10 Thunderbolt [[http://www.aerospaceweb.org/]]</ref>
The A-10 is one of the multiple aircraft designs scheduled to be replace by variants of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II (Joint Strike Fighter). <ref>A-10 Thunderbolt [[http://www.aerospaceweb.org/]]</ref>