Fairchild A-10 Thunderbolt II

Named after the P-47 Thunderbolt, the A-10 Thunderbolt II are the first Air Force aircraft specially designed for close air support of ground forces. They are simple, effective and survivable twin-engine, no afterburner, jet aircraft that can be used against all ground targets, including tanks and other armored vehicles. The primary mission of the A-10 is to provide day and night close air combat support for friendly land forces and to act as forward air controller (FAC) to coordinate and direct friendly air forces in support of land forces. The A-10 has a secondary mission of supporting search and rescue and Special Forces operations. It also possesses a limited capability to perform certain types of interdiction. All of these missions may take place in a high or low threat environment.

Description
The A-10 aircraft was specifically developed as a close air support aircraft with reliability and maintainability as major design considerations. The Air Force requirements documents emphasized payload, low altitude flying capability, range and loiter capability, low speed maneuverability and weapons delivery accuracy. The aircraft is capable of worldwide deployment and operation from austere bases with minimal support equipment. Specific survivability features include titanium armor plated cockpit, redundant flight control system separated by fuel tanks, manual reversion mode for flight controls, foam filled fuel tanks, ballistic foam void fillers, and a redundant primary structure providing "get home" capability after being hit. Design simplicity, ease of access and left to right interchangeable components make the A/OA-10 aircraft readily maintainable and suitable for deployment at advanced bases

General Characteristics
On anti-armor mission: 42,071 lb (19,083 kg
 * Crew: 1
 * Length: 53 ft 4 in (16.26 m)
 * Wingspan: 57 ft 6 in (17.53 m)
 * Height: 14 ft 8 in (4.47 m)
 * Wing area: 506 ft² (47.0 m²)
 * Airfoil: NACA 6716 root, NACA 6713 tip
 * Empty weight: 24,959 lb (11,321 kg)
 * Loaded weight: 30,384 lb (13,782 kg)) On CAS mission: 47,094 lb (21,361 kg)
 * Max takeoff weight: 50,000 lb (23,000 kg)
 * Powerplant: 2× General Electric TF34-GE-100A turbofans, 9,065 lbf (40.32 kN) each

Performance
===Armament === ===Avionics ===
 * Never exceed speed: 450 knots (518 mph,undefined833 km/h) at 5,000 ft (1,500 m) with 18 Mk 82 bombs
 * Maximum speed: 381 knots (439 mph, 706 km/h) at sea level, clean
 * Cruise speed: 300 knots (340 mph, 560 km/h)
 * Stall speed: 120 knots (138 mph, 220 km/h)
 * Combat radius:
 * On CAS mission: 250 nmi (288 mi, 460 km) at 1.88 hour single-engine loiter at 5,000 ft (1,500 m), 10 min combat
 * On anti-armor mission: 252 nmi (290 mi, 467 km), 40 nm (45 mi, 75 km) sea-level penetration and exit, 30 min combat
 * Ferry range: 2,240 nmi (2,580 mi, 4,150 km) with 50 knot (55 mph, 90 km/h) headwinds, 20 minutes reserve
 * Service ceiling: 45,000 ft (13,700 m)
 * Rate of climb: 6,000 ft/min (30 m/s)
 * Wing loading: 99 lb/ft² (482 kg/m²)
 * Thrust/weight: 0.36
 * Guns: 1× 30 mm (1.18 in) GAU-8 Avenger gatling cannon with 1,174 rounds
 * Hardpoints: 11 (8× under-wing and 3× under-fuselage pylon stations) with a capacity of 16,000 lb (7,260 kg) and provisions to carry combinations of:
 * Rockets:
 * 4× LAU-61/LAU-68 rocket pods (each with 19× / 7× Hydra 70 mm rockets, respectively)
 * 4× LAU-5003 rocket pods (each with 19× CRV7 70 mm rockets)
 * 6× LAU-10 rocket pods (each with 4× 127 mm (5.0 in) Zuni rockets)
 * Missiles:
 * 2× AIM-9 Sidewinders air-to-air missiles for self-defense
 * 8× AGM-65 Maverick air-to-surface missiles
 * Bombs:
 * Mark 80 series of unguided iron bombs or
 * Mk 77 incendiary bombs or
 * BLU-1, BLU-27/B Rockeye II, Mk20, BL-755 and CBU-52/58/71/87/89/97 cluster bombs or
 * Paveway series of Laser-guided bombs or
 * Joint Direct Attack Munition (A-10C) or
 * Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser (A-10C)
 * Other:
 * SUU-42A/A Flares/Infrared decoys and chaff dispenser pod or
 * AN/ALQ-131 & AN/ALQ-184 ECM pods or
 * Lockheed Martin Sniper XR & LITENING targeting pods (A-10C) or
 * 2× 600 US gallon Sargent Fletcher drop tanks for extended range/loitering time.
 * AN/AAS-35(V) Pave Penny laser tracker pod (mounted beneath right side of cockpit) for use with Paveway LGBs
 * Head-up display (HUD) for improved technical flying and air-to-ground support.