The Warthog lives again
The Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II has never been popularly called by its designated name. It has long been called “Warthog” because she’s a butt-ugly plane from the perspective of the Air Force swept-wing, better-than-mach-1 design standard. As an institution, the Air Force didn’t like the A-10 for a variety of reasons. She’s slow, she flies low, and – most damning – her mission requires her and her pilot to take direction from (*gasp*) the… Army.
Above a hostile battlespace, however, she is simply unmatched in the West’s arsenal for the ability to take damage and still dish it out in spades. While she lacks the sophisticated computers, night vision, and laser sighting, she’s got pilot armor that makes him all but invulnerable to small arms fire, a fairly hefty ordnance capacity, and the biggest honkin’ gun in the air. The GAU-8 Avenger cannon is a 30mm electic gattling gun capable of putting out a stream of shells thick enough to walk on. Those shells are depleted uranium that slice though most conventional armors like they were tissue paper.
Blackfive is reporting that the Warthog is getting a new lease on life. Initially scheduled to be retired, the aircraft has done such a great job at its intended mission that the Air Force has reversed direction and decided to give the beast an upgrade. Advanced computers, integrated night vision, precision weapons and more all-weather capability are going to be put into the upgrade kits. They’re now talking about the plane staying in the active inventory until 2028.
I’ve always been a little fascinated by the genesis of the A-10 and close air support (CAS) aircraft. The A-10 prototype competed against a Northrop design, the A-9. When the A-10 won the contract, the A-9 dropped into the history books. Here’s what she looked like:
Here’s the fascinating part. Have a look at this shot of the A-9.
Only problem is that this isn’t the A-9. This is the Sukhoi Su-25, NATO-callsign “Frogfoot.” She’s the CAS aircraft of the former Soviet Union. Now, I’m not making any claims or accusations, here. I’ve just always found this to be fascinating.
In any case, great to hear about the A-10. Long live the Warthog!
