| A-10 Thunderbolt II |
The A-10 Thunderbolt II, also known as the “Warthog”, with its distinctive huge GAU-8 Avenger 30 mm caliber Gatling gun, was the first U.S. Air Force aircraft developed exclusively to provide close air support to ground forces. Designed to attack tanks and other armored vehicles the A-10 is exceptionally durable and can survive direct hits from armor-piercing and high-explosive projectiles. It first saw combat in the Gulf war in 1991 and remains in service today.
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| FACTS & STATS: |
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| Range |
800 miles (1,288 km) |
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| Length |
| 53 ft 4 in (16.26 m) |
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| Engine |
| Two General Electric TF34-GE-100 turbofans, 9,000 lbs (4,082 kg) thrust each |
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| Wingspan |
| 57 ft 6 in (17.53 m) |
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| Max Speed |
517 mph (832 kmh)
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| Ceiling |
| 45,000 ft (13,716 m) |
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| Weight |
Empty 25,600 lbs (11,612 kgs);
max takeoff: 50,000 lbs (22,680 kgs) |
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| Armament |
| One GAU-8/A 30 mm Gatling gun with 1,174 rounds and 16,000 lbs (7,258 kg) of mixed ordnance |
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| Click on the pictures below to learn more about each image! |
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