Aircraft "Warthog" (A-10 Thunderbolt 2) is an American armored single attack aircraft. The device was created in the mid-seventies of the last century. Despite the honorable age, the aircraft is considered one of the best representatives of its segment. The main purpose of the machine is the elimination of tanks and other armored vehicles of the enemy. Consider its characteristics and capabilities in more detail.
Historical moments
The Warthog plane first flew into the air and was adopted in 1976. A combat check awaited the Thunderbolt in the Persian Gulf. This machine eliminated the maximum number of enemy vehicles, compared with other counterparts. Prior to Operation Desert Storm, the plane had little hope. However, after a successful debut, they began to look at the device differently.
The most modern and technological modification of the Warthog is the A-10C version, which was put into service in 2007. After 2015, 283 aircraft remained in service. The average cost of an attack aircraft starts at 11.8 million dollars.
Prerequisites for the creation
In many ways, the creation of the Thunderbolt 2 aircraft is associated with the confrontation during the Vietnam War. The fact is that in the early 60s, the Pentagon's strategy had a directional vector to strengthen confrontation with the USSR. For this, air strike aircraft of the F-100, F-101 and F-105 type were put on alert. They were converted for the possibility of carrying nuclear charges, followed by striking at strategic designated targets.
The Vietnam campaign forced US generals to rethink the situation. Due to the lack of specialized equipment, the Americans had to use the Troyan training aircraft in combat mode, which was converted for the corresponding tasks. A meeting with military fighters showed that this venture was inappropriate and completely failed. The development of a special US “Warthog” aircraft began, well protected by armor and equipped with powerful guns.
Confrontation in the Cold War
In the same period, the situation in Europe changed. At the end of the 60s, the updated Soviet T-62 tanks entered service with the army of the Soviet Union. In addition, the BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicle was received for development.
The specified equipment theoretically surpassed all NATO analogues, could be produced in huge quantities. This formed a peculiar myth (or reality) about the Soviet armed avalanche, capable of reaching the English Channel in a matter of hours. Another important point is the installation of the “Shilka” type, which is distinguished by the effectiveness of suppressing enemy points and a high level of protection against enemy charges. Further development in this direction continued with the creation of an aircraft concept with subsonic flight characteristics.
Interesting Facts
The extensive program for the development of the Warthog aircraft, the photo of which is presented below, began to be actively conducted in 1967. The terms of the competitive selection were sent to 21 flight companies. American air forces demanded a unit with a flight speed of at least 650 km / h, good maneuverability, powerful weapons of various calibers and substantial bomb loading. Also, the new attack aircraft was supposed to have takeoff and landing indicators, allowing the operation of unpaved airfields.
When it became clear that the American army was losing the war in Vietnam, the development of the aircraft became more focused on a possible theater of operations in Europe. In 1970, the designers finally decided on the main armament of the military aircraft "Warthog". They became a 30-mm high-speed gun type GAU-8, designed according to the Gatling scheme (with an element of seven barrels).
"Debriefing"
The final stage for the development and creation of the American A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft began in 1970. As a result, two companies opposed each other (Fairchild Republic and Northrop). The first company launched its prototype in a test flight in the spring of 1972, the car from competitors was tested in three weeks.
Comparative tests of both devices began in October 1972. Tested aircraft at the Wright Patterson air base. Both modifications turned out to be almost equivalent in characteristics and capabilities. The YA-10 version was focused on maximum survivability and had an original layout. Option A-9 is made in the classic version, slightly reminiscent of the Soviet attack aircraft SU-25. In the end, the victory went to Fairchild Republic. The company received its first order for the manufacture of an initial series of ten attack aircraft.
Mass production
The mass production of the Warthog attack aircraft began in 1975 and continued until 1984. The device was mercilessly criticized, suggestions were made that it would be replaced with the F-16 model. All doubts were dispelled after the start of the famous Operation Desert Storm, when Saddam Hussein sent troops to Kuwait (1990).
It turned out that a clumsy and slow plane is perfect for fire support of ground units and the elimination of enemy armored vehicles. Modifications to the 144 A-10s took place in combat operations, which made more than eight thousand sorties, losing seven units. Among the achievements of the Thunderbolts is the destruction of hundreds of Iraqi tanks, about two thousand copies of other equipment, and about a thousand artillery mounts. Such indicators could not achieve the famous invisible aircraft and the scandalous F-16.
Further operation
During the confrontation in the Persian Gulf, the A-10 Thunderbolt attack aircraft was represented by 60 vehicles, one of which was shot down, several more were seriously damaged. The most modern modification was produced under the index A-10C. It was adopted in 2010, equipped with the latest electronic digital equipment with the ability to use high-precision charges and laser-guided weapons. In 2015, several aircraft were deployed in the Baltic States (Estonia).
Thunderbolt 2 aircraft is in service exclusively with the U.S. Army. Despite the fact that there were repeated conversations about possible deliveries of the machine to other countries, it was not exported. The device aroused interest among Great Britain, Israel, Japan, South Korea, and Belgium. The difficulty of operating the aircraft in question lies in the fact that not every country can afford the content of a highly specialized model, the operation of multi-purpose analogues is much cheaper. One hour of flight of the indicated attack aircraft is not less than 17 thousand dollars, the planned military program for the use of the unit is designed until 2028.
Description
Thunderbolt 2 A-10 is a low-performance aircraft manufactured according to the standard aerodynamic scheme with a twin keel plumage of a vertical type and a power unit of two engines.
The fuselage is made in the form of a half monocoque, the front part is equipped with a cockpit. The shape and configuration of the design provide the pilot with good visibility across different vectors. Protection is made in the form of a bath of powerful titanium armor, which protects the object from ammunition in caliber up to 37 millimeters. A catapult seat provides emergency pilot evacuation at any permissible speed and altitude.
In the center of the fuselage, motorized nacelles of a pair of turbine screw engines are fixed with pylons. Such placement of the power unit reduces the likelihood of foreign particles getting into the engine compartment during takeoff and landing. In addition, this design simplifies the maintenance of elements, increases their protection against fire from the ground. Exhaust gases from the engine exit through the plane of the stabilizer, limiting the visibility of the aircraft in the thermal range. Design features make it possible to place fuel tanks in the center of gravity zone, which eliminates the need to create a fuel transfer system.
The Warthog plane, whose photo is available below, is equipped with a volumetric rectangular wing, consisting of a center section and a pair of trapezoidal consoles. On the wing - flaps with three sections and ailerons. Design features allow you to actively maneuver at low speeds with a significant payload.
The stabilizer has a large rectangular area, at the ends there are two vertical keels with steering guides. Such a device contributes to the “survivability” of the apparatus, even in the event of the loss of one of the keels or stabilizer consoles.
Other characteristics
The American Warthog attack aircraft is equipped with retractable landing gear with three legs and a frontal strut. In an inactive state, they are almost a third in favor of the fuselage contours, which helps to facilitate maneuvering during the draft. The chassis design makes it possible to operate unpaved runways.
The power unit of the aircraft is formed from a pair of engines of the type Turbojet General Electric TF34-GE-100. Each of the engines has a thrust of 4100 kgf. Also, the aircraft is equipped with two autonomous hydraulic units, ensuring the functioning of the wing mechanization, landing gear retraction, rotation of the main 30-mm gun in the bow. To eliminate a possible fire in the design of the attack aircraft, a special system with inert gas (freon) is provided.
A10 Thunderbolt 2 Aircraft: electronic equipment
This part of the equipment of the Warthog can be described as a relatively simple scheme, in comparison with other American counterparts. The following devices are included in the radio electronics system:
- Block near and far navigation.
- Radio compass.
- Height meter.
- The sensor on the windshield.
- Landing control system.
- Several radio stations.
- Device for the prevention of radar pulses.
- Notification of target detection using a laser beam (captures objects at a distance of up to 24 kilometers).
- Container with electronic warfare equipment.
Armament
American aircraft "Warthog" in the main armament has a powerful 30-mm gun GAU-81A. It is mounted in the bow, made according to the Gatling scheme, equipped with seven rotating trunks. Ammunition shells are made of aluminum alloy, the total mass of the installation is 1.83 tons.
The gun has a hydraulic drive, the supply of charges of a linkless type, a drum magazine. The charges are made with plastic lead belts, allowing you to significantly increase the resources of the trunks and set a different rate of fire guns (from 2100 to 4200 volleys per minute). In reality, the pilot is limited to short bursts lasting several seconds. With prolonged firing, overheating of the trunks is observed. Used sleeves are not thrown out, but are collected in a drum.
Notes
The GAU-81A cannon, mounted on the American Warthog aircraft, is capable of working with two types of shells: high-explosive fragmentation shells (HEB) and sub-caliber ammunition (PCB) with uranium filling. As a rule, in the ammunition load of one machine for one OFB there are three PKB. The accuracy of hitting a target - at a distance of 1.22 kilometers, 80 percent of the shells fall into the outline of a six-meter circle.
The attack aircraft is equipped with 11 points of external suspension. On them are free-fall bombs or guided counterparts. Missile type missiles with a television-guided type fall into the latter category. Their principle of operation can be briefly described as "shot and forgot." The target detection distance is 12 kilometers in theory and not more than six in practice.
Self defense
For protection, the military aircraft under consideration uses air-to-air missile charges, as well as additional units with 20 mm Vulcan guns. Attack aircraft are rightfully included in the elite group of their category. Along with a high survivability, maneuverability and relatively low cost parameter, significant airborne weaponry effectiveness and defense capability are noted.
In confirmation of the “survivability” of the A-10, the fact that, during the conduct of hostilities in Iraq and Yugoslavia, attack aircraft were able to return to base even with a damaged engine, missing stabilizer or a failed hydraulic system, including serious wing deformations.
Nuances
If we talk about the armament of the US attack aircraft "Warthog", then the total weight of the shot of the 30-mm gun A-10 overlaps the same parameter GSh-2-30 provided for on the Su-25. In addition, the operation of sub-caliber charges greatly increases the effectiveness of firing on armored targets.
After the start of testing the aircraft, it turned out that the powder gases are introduced into the power plants of the attack aircraft, causing a decrease in their thrust. The average power drop was about one percent for every thousand shots. This problem was partially solved by equipping the engines with a special system aimed at burning surviving powder particles.
Warthogs were successfully and actively used during operations in Afghanistan and the former Yugoslavia. Now the machine in question is the main unit of support for ground units in the US Army. The airplane received its nickname (“Warthog”) in honor of the legendary predecessor of the Second World War, Warthog P-47 Thunderbolt.
Parameters in numbers
The main characteristics of the attack aircraft under consideration:
- Length / height of the machine - 16.26 / 4.47 m.
- Wingspan - 17.53 m.
- Empty / take-off / maximum weight - 11.6 / 14.86 / 22.2 tons
- The fuel mass is 4.85 tons.
- The wing area is 47 square meters. m
- The maximum speed is 834 km / h.
- Type of power plant - General Electric TF34.
- The practical range is 3.94 thousand kilometers.
- The crew is one pilot.
