A-10

Why was the A-10 created?

The A-10, unusually, was built for a new role in the USAF without replacing another outdated aircraft. This role is solely Close-Air Support (CAS), where the aircraft is usually tasked with providing air support to troops on the ground by Attacking armoured vehicles, tanks and other enemy forces. Interestingly, the aircraft had to be designed around the GAU-8 cannon rather than a gun being designed for the aircraft, effectively making it a flying machine gun. It had to be cheap, it had to be durable and it had to be reliable.

A Technical Analysis

Specs

Top Speed Mach 0.57
Operating cost $6000 per hour
Range 1287km
In air refuelling Yes
Runway Length 1,200m
Gun One 30mm GAU-8/A seven-barrel Gatling gun
Ammunition Capacity 1,350 rounds
Ceiling 45,000 ft (13,700m)
Weapon Payload 7,200 kilograms
RCS A lot
Unit Cost $9.3 million
Outer Fuel Tanks Yes
Internal Fuel 4,990 kg

So, how was the aircraft?

The aircraft turned out to be great, in fact, still in service today before being replaced by the F-35. The cannon produced by General Dynamics was an incredible piece of machinery with an accuracy of 80% at a cone with a 12m diameter at 1,200m away. And with the incredible survivability of the aircraft meant it could take several hits and engine failures whilst still flying. Truly an engineering marvel.

What can it do that others can’t?

There are a lot of points here, first off, I’d like to mention how short the runway has to be in order to take off compared to other fighters, this is because of how versatile it is, and how, if needed, it could take off from civilian motorways. The cannon as said previously is incredibly powerful and accurate, with the uranium bullets easily penetrating heavy armour. The placement of the turbines above the wings prevents dust from entering them when taking off, allowing take-off and landing in remote areas. Huge amounts of armour, a titanium bathtub around the pilot prevents damage on the interior and around 540kg of extra armour around the fuselage leads to a more resilient aircraft.

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