Pilots discuss how the A-10 Warthog's tight turning radius coupled with its big gun means it can sting even the best fighters in a dogfight.
While the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II is the king of close air support (CAS) — supporting troops on the ground with its blistering array of firepower — many would be surprised to know that it is also no slouch when it comes to air-to-air fighting.
While the “Warthog” isn’t optimized for the air superiority role and lacks key capabilities, such as high-speed, radar, and radar-guided long-range missiles that make its fighter brethren such air-to-air supremos, even the greatest fighter pilots are rightfully wary of getting into a close-in turning dogfight with a ‘lowly’ mud-moving A-10.
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WNU Editor: Another reason on why the A-10 should not be retired.
I was stationed at NAS Oceana in the 1980's. Quite a bit of testing went on there. The F-14A+ was put through its paces there. We also got to see a lot of visiting squadrons from other branches of the US mil and from other countries.
ReplyDeleteThe A-10's were amazing to watch. They are spectacularly maneuverable at low speeds. And very quiet. They scoot at low levels in mountainous terrain and get turned around much faster than fast jets.
They didn't come often but when they did they attracted a lot of attention from the other personnel on base. Back then they were all painted green.
They can carry just anything in the US arsenal except nukes. They almost imnpossible to shoot down and just for fun the Russians are scared to death of them.
ReplyDeleteNot even close to impossible to shoot down,the republican guard demonstrated that.
DeleteNot only should it not be retired, it should be developed 2.0 style. Make more please and upgrade it.
ReplyDelete