August 21, 2009
Aero-News Network
When You Want the "Prettiest" Tank-Killer In The World, You Want A WartHog!
To those who look upon the A-10 for the first time, there is a sense that they're not looking at an airplane -- but the box it came in. BUT, to those who need to kill heavy enemy armament and do it in a serious way, the A-10 suddenly becomes one of the prettiest sights you ever saw... especially if said enemy armament is aimed your way.
The Air forces notes that A-10 Thunderbolt IIs have excellent maneuverability at low air speeds and altitude, and are highly accurate weapons-delivery platforms. They can loiter near battle areas for extended periods of time and operate under 1,000-foot ceilings with 1.5-mile visibility. Their wide combat radius and short takeoff and landing capability permit operations in and out of locations near front lines. Using night vision goggles, A-10 pilots can conduct their missions during darkness.
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 30mm cannon, capable of firing 3,900 rounds per minute to defeat a wide variety of targets including tanks. In other words... when you care enough to send the very best... an A-10 will often be the one delivering the goods.
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