In the mid-Cold War, the US Air Force developed an armored anti-tank aircraft named Fairchild A-10A Thunderbolt II. The basic role of the aircraft was the GAU-8/A Avenger cannon with 30mm tubes, capable of destroying every vehicle like armored vehicles of the Warsaw Pact countries and their allies.
The aircraft were used for the first time during Operation Desert Storm in Iraq in 1991.
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Αυτά είναι τα 10 πιο επικίνδυνα επιθετικά αεροσκάφη του κόσμου!
The end of its career?
Since 2010, there are a lot of political arguments about the possible ending of the A-10A. The supporters of this idea believe that the aircraft must be replaced by F-35s and drones, as the A-10A is old. The aircraft has lost its prestige, as the US Air Force features so many new aircraft.
As the issues of the F-35A continue, the Lockheed Martin jets haven't replaced the A-10 completely. Other reports state that the cost of A-10 is 6 times less than F-35's.
The Solution
So as soon as it was decided that some A-10 will stay in the Air Force, it was obvious that these aircraft must be upgraded. These upgrades were decided to happen in stages. In 2005, A-10A was improved with modern technologies and was called A-10C. Some improvements include a glass cockpit and their new ability to deploy precision weapons. Since 2008, A-10s receive new wings to extend their life beyond 2030.
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Το πιο ισχυρό μαχητικό στον κόσμο F-35 Stealth Jet υποβάλλεται σε «θεραπεία σοκ με λέιζερ» για ενίσχυση της απόδοσης
Today's A-10C is being upgraded with the Suite 10 upgrade that lets pilots shoot multiple targets at the same time, with three different ammunition. This improvement is the biggest till 2005, and it's possible that will make the AGR-20 APKWS precision missiles available along with the GBU-31 guided bombs. The avionics of the aircraft have been improved with better resistance to GPS jamming, 3D audio, and high-resolution displays. The latest aircraft that have received the upgrade will be delivered soon.
The upgrades list doesn't end here, as Suite 11 is under development and will start in the upcoming years. However, it isn't planned to change the engine of the A-10C, which can reach a top speed of 675km/h, in a range of 1.287km, and with a payload of 7,2t. Its successor, F-35, isn't fully operational yet, and its cost is for sure higher than that of A-10.
