Posted on 06/16/2016 1:44:53 PM PDT by blam
Sarah Sicard
June 16, 2016
Since the A-10 Warthog, recently seemingly destined for the scrap yard, is now engaging enemy Islamic State fighters in Iraq and Taliban forces in Afghanistan in the form of a new weapon with a badass name - the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System.
Manufactured by BAE Systems, the APKWS is equipped with laser-guided rockets, giving A-10 aircraft in Afghanistan a "deep magazine of high-precision weapons," according to Popular Mechanics.
One of the biggest advantages to using this system is the minimal collateral damage left when fired, which is a result of its tiny warhead.
In addition, it's lighter - which means that the A-10 can carry 38 of these, instead of the two 500-pound bombs it carried before.
According to a statement from BAE, the new kit transforms a standard unguided munition into a precision laser-guided rocket.
(snip)
(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...
It would have been easier to get the Volkswagen to fly.
Have that sticker on my Car. Also have the T Shirt.
New wings:
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/usaf-to-continue-a-10-warthog-wing-production-421567/
USAF To Continue A-10 ‘Warthog’ Wing Production
04 February, 2016
James Drew
Washington DC
The US Air Force has not only ditched long-standing plans to retire the hardy Fairchild Republic A-10 attack airplane but is launching a follow-on wing replacement programme to keep the combat veteran flying well into the next decade.
On Tuesday, defence secretary Ashton Carter announced plans to keep the “Warthog” that first flew in 1972 for another five years, with a revised retirement date of 2021.
The same day, the air force released a draft statement of work regarding construction of slightly updated versions of the A-10 enhanced wing assembly currently built by Boeing and Korean Aerospace Industries. Boeing’s contract includes 173 wings with options for 69 more, but the air force confirms that ordering period ends in September. Boeing has said those wings, based on 3D models of the original thick-skin wing design of the 1970s, could keep the aircraft flying past 2040.
“This will not be a sole-source acquisition to Boeing, but Boeing will have every opportunity as will other approved sources of supply to compete in the source selection process for the A-10 TUSK wing requirement,” says a spokesman for the programme. Approved sources include Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Israel Aerospace Industries and Spirit AeroSystems and representatives from each company attended an industry day at Hill AFB in November.
According to contracting notices, the A-10 thick-skin urgent spares kitting (TUSK) wing assemblies programme could deliver up to 120 complete wings at a rate of 10 to 25 units per year over a five-year contract period. The air force’s fiscal year 2016 budget includes funding for the first wing and three low-rate initial production units.
“Wing assembly will include all structures, fairings, flight controls, systems, electrical harnesses, and hardware that makes up a complete wing from tip to tip,” the statement of work explains. “Excluded will be weapons mounting pylons, landing gear, countermeasure and classified systems.”
The first and subsequent wing assemblies are to be installed on operational A-10Cs and will remain there once certified, the document adds. The air force maintains 284 operational A-10C with an average fleet age of 34 years and 77% mission-capable rate, air force data shows.
Though the air force has been trying to retire the A-10 since 2014 to generate savings, supporters within the organisation and in Congress have successfully lobbied against the move. Lockheed Martin’s F-35 and other fast jets were meant to assume the Thunderbolt II’s close air support role.
Introduced in 1977, the A-10 has become an invaluable tool for hunting Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria and it frequently teams with AC-130 gunships to rain down destruction on oil trucks, tanks, utility vehicles and other insurgent-held equipment. Carter claims the aircraft’s success in ongoing counter-insurgency operations is what saved it from the boneyard.
I love the weird aircraft of the mid to late 40’s.
Some of them are pretty exotic. This is volume 1, I don't know when volume 2 is coming out.
P-61 "Black Widow" Night Fighter
Thanks for the article, blam! Love that A-10!
I’ve never figured out how Chad Hennings (about 6’5”), a defensive lineman for the Dallas Cowboys, was able to squeeze himself into the cockpit of the A-10s he piloted before becoming a pro football player. ....I think most USAF pilots are fairly small, so does the A-10 have a large seat and cockpit?
Just an idle thought triggered by mention of the A-10.
People might read that with some formatting.
Otherwise, it’s gibberish.
Pilot had to put up with back seat driver, huh ?
~~~~~~~~~~~
Not only that, but with four .50 bmg machine guns firing from a turret just above and behind his head...
And four 20mm cannons firing right under his rump...
It got a bit noisy, at times... '-)
As a side note.
Information is leaking around the Air Force aviator community that may or may not be factual:
Re: Thunderbird crash
“Obama was late showing up for the graduation and the T Birds had to go into a holding pattern waiting for their part of the ceremony to take place. The entire flight ran low on fuel and being number six for landing he was on fumes and elected to head it for a field where he put it down as he ejected. The rest of the flight were also on fumes but landed safely. Flight leader and this pilot were just fired from the team. Meanwhile Obama blithely goes his way with nary an apology.”
Both man's evil and genius were turned loose during WW2
Holy Shiite Batman
Paragraphs are our friends...
“I think that is what happens when one designs a flying gun disguised as an airplane.”
... because there is virtually no sound of approach. Twice a year, on Memorial Day and July 4, the A-10s of the Maryland National Guard fly over my house. You don't hear a thing until they're already there. It's amazing. Maybe it's an artifact of the local geography or something, but I swear you don't hear them until they're over your house.
In Afcrapistan they enemy call the hog “whispering death”.
For subsonics like A-10, I think it has to do with speed, flying altitude and ground cover. At high speed, low altitude, and some ground cover (trees) to intercept line-of-sight noise noise, aircraft can creep up on you. I used to live near a small airport and we got buzzed all the time. Never quite got used to it.
I would assume an A-10 coming in high with that little rotary cannon blaring, you’re going to hear.
Supersonics can creep up on you no matter what if they are coming your way.
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