It is an immortal aircraft. We could not define otherwise the Fairchild-Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II, big beast entered into service in the 1977, when the TV (Italian ... ed) still broadcast in black and white, and that will remain on the battlefield at least up to 2028, entering by right in the history of aviation.
Loved by troops, hated by enemies. The Taliban call it "the nightmare", because of the bullets of its cannon that reach their destination before they are even heard. In recent years they have tried to replace this monstrous machine, but in the end, no one has been able to do anything but bring it back into service. The reason? Is simple. There is no similar machine in the world Close Air Support. And it will not exist, because no one is developing his successor.
Those who attempted to identify a possible substitute (such as the F-35) failed miserably. The "Warthog" fleet was due to retire from the 2015, a move that would have allowed the Pentagon to save something like four billion dollars. In contrast, the world's most powerful aviation would no longer have a specific aircraft in the Cas role.
Despite initial perplexities, the US Congress has allocated a billion dollars to keep nine squadrons active Warthog (withdrawing four, with money and men channeled into the JSF program). From Europe to Syria, from Korea to Afghanistan, from Iraq to Turkey. Where the US troops, A-10 will fly there.
The fact that a system flights for 60 years is due to two main factors: on one hand the foresight of the designers for creating a flying tank. On the other, the myopia of the Pentagon that in the last twenty years has never provided for the design of a specific substitute for the A-10, dazzled by the unbridled pursuit of the best and most expensive technology. Over the years, all A-10 retirement plans have been deemed irresponsible and reckless because the US does not (and will not) inventory, something remotely similar to the fire and resistance capabilities of the Warthog.
No other Western aircraft could continue its mission under the gun fire from 23mm and against some from 57 mm. Every vital part of the A-10 is protected by armored plates. The pilot is no exception, surrounded by a titanium "tank" of 600 kg.
The A-10 may not even be nice to see. It is not stealthIt's not fast, it's not elegant, but it's designed to survive. It can fly with a damaged and partially destroyed wing, a single engine, a single rudder, a single wing. It can fly with the damaged hydraulic system, thanks to mechanical reserve controls. Its wing tips curved downwards, increase lift at low speeds. The main wheels of the trolley protrude from the gondolas when it is retracted: a further guarantee of survival even when the trolley can not be extended.
But the A-10 was not designed like an airplane, but rather like an armored system to carry the most powerful airborne tactical weapon on the planet: the seven-barrel rotating gun GAU-8 Avenger. It is a GUNling type cannon from 30 mm at two firing cadences: 2100 or 4200 strokes per minute and can be taken to the maximum shooting cadence in 0,55 seconds. The ammunition tank carries a maximum of 1350 hits. It is capable of destroying a tank at almost 7 km away.
The A-10, designed in 70 'years, could not operate in scenarios where previously no aviation supremacy had been set up - it would be a very easy prey. The project was born for tactical support and the destruction of tanks with a cost of just under $ 12 million in exemplary.
Finally, it should be noted that another data that consecrates the A-10 to the sacred monster of the Air Force. Despite being designed in the 70 years, the A-10 has never been sold abroad. An absolute ban on Congress, currently imposed on F-22, whose cost was (closed line) of 150 million dollars per copy.
(photo: Lockheed Martin / US Air Force)
