Is the a10 feared?

The A-10 is feared for its ability to devastate enemy infantry and ground targets, as has been proven in conflicts around the world since 1976. Unlike strategic bombers that fly high in the atmosphere, it operates relatively close to the ground, so its pilots can easily eyeball the enemy.

How feared is the a10 Warthog?

In one of its most incredible feats during the war, several A-10s destroyed more than 900 Iraqi tanks, 1,200 artillery pieces, and 2,000 other military vehicles. According to a captured Iraqi captain, the A-10 Warthog was the most recognizable and feared aircraft in the Gulf War.

Has an A-10 ever been shot down?

Pilot Captain Steven Phyllis was killed. Phyllis died while protecting his downed wingman (1st Lieutenant Robert James Sweet). Phyllis' body was later recovered. February 19 – An A-10A Thunderbolt II (Serial Number 76-0543) was shot down by a Strela-1 (SA-9) surface-to-air missile 62 nm northwest of Kuwait city.

How powerful is the A-10?

Survivability. The A-10 is battle-hardened to an exceptional degree, being able to survive direct hits from armor-piercing and high-explosive projectiles up to 23 mm. It has double-redundant hydraulic flight systems, and a mechanical system as a backup if hydraulics are lost.

Is the a10 bullet proof?

The cockpit has a large bulletproof bubble canopy, which provides excellent all-round vision. The aircraft can survive direct hits from up to 23mm armor-piercing and high-explosive projectiles. The self-sealing fuel cells on the A-10 are protected by internal and external foam.

Why The A-10 Warthog Is Totally Invincible

Can the a10 survive a missile?

The aircraft can survive direct hits from armor-piercing and high explosive projectiles up to 23mm. Their self-sealing fuel cells are protected by internal and external foam. Manual systems back up their redundant hydraulic flight-control systems. This permits pilots to fly and land when hydraulic power is lost.

What makes the a10 so special?

The A-10's GAU-8 30 mm rotary cannon is arguably its most famous feature. Mounted in the nose, this Gatling gun is one of the most powerful fitted to an aircraft to date. Its rapid bursts are responsible for the A-10s famous raspy sound, which comes from its seven barrels firing 65 rounds per second.

Has an A-10 ever been in a dogfight?

The A-10 was not built to dogfight

And that's where Fairchild Republic came in with a design for an unusual aircraft that prized resiliency, redundancy, and function over all else. It was nearly as long as it was wide, and the fuselage was little more than a massive 30mm rotary cannon with a cockpit stuck on top.

Can an A-10 destroy a modern tank?

'As pretty much everyone else answering this question has pointed out… the A-10 can fairly easily destroy a tank. As can anything else slinging either an AGM-65 Maverick or an AGM-114 Hellfire.

Can the A10 pierce tanks?

A US Air Force test showed that the A-10 attack aircraft, which is over 40 years old, can take out even modern tanks with its gun. The air service tested the attack aircraft against main battle tank surrogates with explosive reactive armor. The plane's GAU-8 Avenger cannon can fire around 3,900 rounds per minute.

How many kills does the A10 have?

Those bursts can shred the armor on a tank. They can also hit unintended targets. Since 2001, the A-10 has been involved in four friendly fire incidents that killed 10 U.S. troops. The next highest is the B-1B bomber, which killed five soldiers last year in one incident.

Can the A10 penetrate tank armor?

Results of recent live fire testing by the US Air Force (USAF) found that, 50 years after its inception, A-10C Thunderbolts can still crack open the armour of modern main battle tanks. More commonly known as the Warthog, the ground attack airframe was originally produced in 1972 by Fairchild Republic.

How thick is the A10 armor?

The armor is . 5 to 1.5 inches thick. The pilot's canopy and front windscreen are resistant to small arms fire. The aircraft's design allows the close air support jet aircraft to survive direct hits from armor-piercing and high-explosive projectiles up to 23mm.

Can an A-10 destroy a battleship?

No, the mass of the battleship would make it basically unsinkable, and that does not even put into account the armor.

What is the a-10 Warthog weakness?

Argument: The A-10 isn't survivable in a high-threat environment. This is basically issue number one: the slow, unstealthy A-10 is vulnerable to a full range of air defense systems developed by Russia and China that have only become more sophisticated with each passing year.

What will replace the A-10 Warthog?

This has been going on for so long—more than 30 years—that the Air Force originally wanted to replace the A-10 with the F-16, but now wants to replace it with the F-35 Lightning II. While the A-10 was able to hold out against the F-16, it will now be replaced by the F-35.

How many a 10s are left?

A total of 281 A-10 aircraft are in service with the USAF, Air Combat Command (ACC), Air Force Reserve, and the Air National Guard (ANG). The aircraft variants currently in service in the USAF are A-10, and A-10C; Reserve A-10 and OA-10; ANG, A-10, and OA-10.

What can an A-10 destroy?

The A-10 Warthog still appears to be true to its name, 'Tankbuster. ' With its powerful cannon, the US Air Force recently demonstrated that the A-10 Thunderbolt II, a close-air support mission plane, can destroy modern tanks with armor enhancements.

How many bombs can an A-10 carry?

Until now the A-10 was limited to carry only a single weapon on each pylon; by using the BRU-61/A rack, the A-10 will be able to carry four SDBs on each weapon pylon, becoming a "bomb truck" that can release these stand-off weapons to neutralize threats as far as 50 miles in the target area before starting to provide ...

Does the a10 have any air-to-air kills?

I had just become only the second A-10 pilot in history to score an air-to-air kill, and one of the very few pilots in modern history to do so with a gun rather than missiles.” Besides being the last A-10 air-to-air kill to date, this is also the last gun kill by U.S. forces.

Can A-10 survive dogfight?

Originally Answered: Would an A-10 do good in a dogfight? No. The A-10 is too slow and too underpowered. Yes, he can turn tightly… but he has no way to force the enemy to slow down and sit in front of his nose, and the faster, more powerful aircraft can always escape at will.

Do pilots like the A-10 Warthog?

The Warthog can fight from austere locations, and it can even battle enemy aircraft if necessary. It is an awesome plane, especially with some of the upgrades in the A-10C, and it is loved by the pilots who fly it.

How many tanks has the a10 destroyed?

By the time it ended, the Warthog would be credited with destroying more than 900 tanks, 2,000 military vehicles, and 1,200 artillery pieces. That the A-10 remains in service 29 years later is a testament to the platform's reliability and effectiveness.

Can an A-10 penetrate an M1 Abrams?

The 30 mm GAU-8 on the A-10 Thunderbolt II would not be able to penetrate the M1 Abrams except in rear armor, engine deck, and maybe turret roof on a near perpendicular angle. The 30 mm rounds are powerful, but the front steel armor as early as the T-62 tank could already defeat it.