Menu Close

Do a10s carry bombs?

Do a10s carry bombs?

The A-10 is equipped to carry GPS and laser-guided bombs, such as the GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb, Paveway series bombs, JDAM, WCMD and glide bomb AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon. A-10s usually fly with an ALQ-131 ECM pod under one wing and two AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles under the other wing for self-defense.

What missiles Can the A-10 carry?

The Thunderbolt II can employ a wide variety of conventional munitions, including general purpose bombs, cluster bomb units, laser guided bombs, joint direct attack munitions or JDAM, wind corrected munitions dispenser or WCMD, AGM-65 Maverick and AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles, rockets, illumination flares, and the GAU-8/A …

Does the A-10 drop bombs?

A US Air Force A-10 accidentally dropped dummy bombs on Florida after hitting a bird. The US Air Force says an A-10 Thunderbolt collided with a bird over Florida on Monday, causing it to inadvertently release three training munitions over the state.

How many A-10 shot down?

(Many returned to base almost unflyable, but only seven Warthogs have ever been shot down or crashed due to combat.)

How Slow Can an A-10 Warthog fly?

420 mph
Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II/Top speed

Why is the A-10 called Warthog?

The Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt was built for close air support. Soldiers and airmen nicknamed it “Warthog,” due to the guttural belch made by its giant 30mm GAU-8 Avenger rotary cannon that sticks out its mouth.

Is the A-10 considered a fighter jet?

The A-10C Thunderbolt II is the first Air Force aircraft specially designed for close air support of ground forces.

Can the A-10 dogfight?

Can Warthogs dogfight? Conventional wisdom says slow attack jets like the A-10 can’t dogfight. The Thunderbolt II’s 30mm GAU-8/A Gatling gun can fire 3,900 rounds a minute and can defeat an array of ground targets to include tanks.

What is a JDAM missile?

The Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) is a guidance kit that converts unguided bombs, or “dumb bombs”, into all-weather precision-guided munitions. The JDAM is not a stand-alone weapon; rather it is a “bolt-on” guidance package that converts unguided gravity bombs into precision-guided munitions (PGMs).

Can An A-10 Warthog dogfight?

Was the A-10 Warthog used in Vietnam?

The A-10 was designed for close support in low intensity conflicts during the Vietnam War, yet it came to be seen as a dedicated anti-armor platform by the early 1970s. Although the A-10 was never exported, it was redesignated OA-10 for the Forward Air Control role.

Can A-10 Warthog dogfight?

A-10s carry two AIM-9M Sidewinders just in case a dogfight breaks out. As powerful as the GAU-8 is, the Warthog has other tools to help it win a fight with an opposing jet. In case of a dogfight, the A-10 also carries a pair of AIM-9M sidewinder missiles.

What kind of weapon does an A-10 Thunderbolt carry?

Although the A-10 can carry a considerable amount of munitions, its primary built-in weapon is the 30×173 mm GAU-8/A Avenger autocannon. One of the most powerful aircraft cannons ever flown, it fires large depleted uranium armor-piercing shells.

What was the A10 warthog designed to carry?

$\\begingroup$ The A10 was designed around the GAU8/A cannon, but once the aircraft entered service it was realised that a stand off weapon was needed to give the aircraft a reasonable chance of survival in the face of the Soviet short range air defences.

What was the mission rate of the A-10C Thunderbolt?

In the Gulf War, A-10s had a mission capable rate of 95.7%, flew 8,100 sorties and launched 90% of the AGM-65 Maverick missiles.

Where does the a 10 Thunderbolt II fly from?

An A-10 Thunderbolt II from the 104th Fighter Wing, Massachusetts Air National Guard, Barnes Municipal Airport, Westfield, Mass., banks while flying across the Mediterranean Sea enroute to a forward operating base. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Mark Bucher)