LOCKHEED MARTIN AWARDED $37.8 MILLION CONTRACT FOR A-10 UPGRADES

Lockheed Martin ^ | March 30, 2005 | Lockheed Martin

[Seaplaner]

...estimated total contract value of $168 million

This is a true bargain my friends.

.

[ASOC]

Cool stuff - I worked at Nellis when the A-10 was first tested - the "guidance system" then was a grease pencil mark on the canopy. After they got the gun gas ingection problem solved, it was ready for the 'nam....

But - missed it by that much.

[Paleo Conservative]

These tanks are all far lighter(& fuel efficient) than a M1 & are far more mobile unless you are talking about sea transportation.

But that means they skimped on the armour. Our tanks are so heavy, because they have DU armour. I wonder what a 120 mm DU round would do to one of their tanks?

[sukhoi-30mki]

Skimpy on armour,yes, but we should remember that the Russians were among the first to go in for the use of explosive reactive armour(ERA) as well as active countermeasures systems to defeat projectiles & missiles fired at it.The newer Type-90s & Type-98s are known to have ERA as well as some laser based countermeasures system.Since no Western tank or military has ever faced such tanks,I don't think there is much use in comparing it with an M1.IIRC,during the 2 Iraq wars,M1s took out Iraqi T-72s with single shots,though the models Iraq had were early generation ones with no night vision capability & poor choice of munitions.

PS-Another innovation is that the Type-90s & 98s can fire laser guided missiles from their guns.

[sukhoi-30mki]

http://www.sinodefence.com/army/tank/default.asp

This site is a pretty useful resource,though Id advice you take a pinch of salt while visiting.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

no matter what the fast-mover addicts try, they just cannot get rid of the Hogs.

The fast movers saved the A-10. Widely deployed gun type ground defense systems ( considered the A-10s greatest vulnerability ) were proved the least useful by precision munitions dropped from the fast movers. Smart weapons aren't as costly or scarce as when the decision was first made to get rid of the A-10. Multi purpose AA systems that were once considered the A-10s Achilles Heel are joining the scrap heap of military history due to being proved a waste during both Gulf Wars. Most potential enemy's future Anti Aircraft systems are going to be improved AA missile based, which work better against the fast movers, almost passing the A-10 by. What was once considered the A-10s greatest weakness is now one of it's greatest strengths .

[Gunrunner2]

Thanks for the ping. As always, nice to hear the A-10 is appreciated. Boeing was going for the contract but gave it up because the contract wasn't big enough.

[Gunrunner2]

DU round from an A-10 would punch holes in it. Easy. Heck, the training round can go through an inch and a half of armor from 2,000 feet, and the DU round can go through an inch and a half from 8,000 feet. And it carries a lot of rounds.

[Gunrunner2]

Reactive armor is not a problem for the GAU-8 nor the Maverick missile. Lighter anti-tank weapons, maybe, but not those weapons. Multiple 30-mm DU rounds impacting and shredding the RA, or the 125lb shaped warhead of the Maverick missile, RA is nothing.

[brooklin]

Thanks for the heads up.

[brooklin]

This is just an opinion from what I have read but, I don't think that the F-35 will ever be a real replacement for the rough life that an A-10 has to endure.

[brooklin]

"(T.U.S.K. upgrade = a GOOD idea)."

What is this? Is it for the tank or plane?

[Libloather]

Apparently there were 710 A-10's built. 367 are still in service - according to the History Channel's special - ON NOW!

[Bald Eagle777]

Sorry. For the tank.

The TUSK package was released as an upgrade package for the M1 Abrams which deals specifically with lessons learned (AAR) from Iraq. In different unspecified situations, certain "issues" were identified which were addressed by the upgrade kit. Our armored Cav forces will be better prepared to deal with future challenges based upon lessons learned in the field.

[Bald Eagle777]

"take a pinch of salt while visiting"

Roger that/always do! Same deal with the DPRK official web site, and a truck load of the "others".

Researching a couple diff. weapons systems, I came across a Russian "inspired" web site, that basically said "the best" X Y Z etc in the world (for everything). Please.

Please, tell them to can the online PSYOP, it is so ..... unconvincing

[brooklin]

thanks