Is the A-10 considered a fighter?
It is commonly referred to by the nicknames “Warthog” or “Hog”, although the A-10’s official name comes from the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, a World War II fighter-bomber effective at attacking ground targets….Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II.
| A-10 / OA-10 Thunderbolt II | |
|---|---|
| Primary user | United States Air Force |
| Produced | 1972–1984 |
| Number built | 716 |
Do pilots like the A-10?
In addition to the cannon, the A-10 Thunderbolt II can carry up to 16,000 pounds of varied munitions. The Warthog can fight from austere locations, and it can even battle enemy aircraft if necessary. It is an awesome plane, especially with some of the upgrades in the A-10C, and it is loved by the pilots who fly it.
How many mavericks can an A-10 carry?
The A-10 can carry up to ten Maverick air-to-surface missiles. The Raytheon Maverick AGM-65 missile uses a variety of guidance systems, including imaging infrared guidance and warheads, including a high-penetration, 57kg conical-shaped charge warhead. Range is more than 45km.
Do fighters still dogfight?
Yes they generally are trained in dogfighting – which is short ranged aerial combat but the primary focus is on what is known as BVR – Beyond Visual Range air-to-air combat That involves the use of longer ranged radar guided missile systems such as the AIM-120 AMRAAM.
How good is the A-10 in a dogfight?
Everybody knows the A-10 can bring the pain to ground targets like few aircraft in history, but the aircraft’s tight turn radius and powerful gun can actually make it a force to be reckoned with in a dogfight too.
Can an A-10 Warthog beat a GAU-8?
If you put an A-10 in that close turning fight, we do very, very, well.” As powerful as the GAU-8 is, the Warthog has other tools to help it win a fight with an opposing jet. In case of a dogfight, the A-10 also carries a pair of AIM-9M sidewinder missiles.
Can the A-10 outrun an enemy fighter?
If a “leaker,” or enemy fighter, does manage to get through, they’ll be in for a surprise. As American fighter pilots learned firsthand over Vietnam, being slow and maneuverable can work out in a gunfight against fast-moving jets. While the A-10 can’t outrun a fighter, it can outturn them.
How many kills did the A-10 have in the Gulf War?
In just forty days (the extent of the Persian Gulf War), the A-10 racked up an astonishing 987 kills against enemy tanks, 926 against enemy artillery pieces, 1,355 against other combat vehicles, 10 against enemy fighters on the ground, and two against airborne enemy helicopters.