Criticism how the U.S. Air Force did not take close air assist (CAS) seriously prompted several ASSISTANCE members to seek the specialized attack aircraft.[5][6] at the Vietnam War, large amounts regarding ground-attack aircraft were shot decrease by small arms, surface-to-air missiles, AND ALSO low-level anti-aircraft gunfire, prompting your current development of any aircraft much better competent to survive most of these weapons. within addition, your UH-1 Iroquois IN ADDITION TO AH-1 Cobra helicopters of the day, which USAF commanders had said In the event that handle close air support, were ill-suited pertaining to WORK WITH against armor, hauling lone anti-personnel machine guns AND unguided rockets suitable for soft targets. easily jets much like the F-100 Super Sabre, F-105 Thunderchief AND ALSO F-4 Phantom II proved to its many part in order to be ineffective intended for close air help because it\'s high speed did not provide pilots enough time frame to get a great accurate fix at ground targets IN ADDITION TO they lacked sufficient loiter time. your current effective, but aging, Korean War era A-1 Skyraider was the USAF's 1st close air help aircraft.[7][8]
A-X program
In 1966, your USAF formed your own Attack Experimental (A-X) system office.[9] at six March 1967, your current Air The stress released a great request particulars for you to 21 defense contractors because of its A-X. your objective feel to be able to Produce a design study with regard to a great low-cost attack aircraft.[6] with 1969, ones Secretary of the Air The load enquired Pierre Sprey to post your own comprehensive Prerequisites because of its proposed A-X project; Sprey's 1st involvement am retained secret due in order to his before controversial involvement for the F-X project.[6] Sprey's discussions inside Skyraider pilots running inside Vietnam AND ALSO analysis regarding aircraft considered for the role mentioned ones suitable aircraft In case have very long loiter time, low-speed maneuverability, massive cannon firepower, IN ADDITION TO extreme survivability;[6] obtaining your current Easiest elements of a Ilyushin Il-2, Henschel Hs 129, ALONG WITH Skyraider. ones Prerequisites in addition demanded That each aircraft cost less when compared with $3 million.[6] Sprey expected the biography involving World War II Luftwaffe attack pilot Hans-Ulrich Rudel possibly be read by a person for the A-X program.[10]
In may 1970, your USAF supplied a great modified, additional in depth ask proposals (RFP) due to the aircraft. the threat involving Soviet armored forces AND ALSO all-weather attack operations had become more serious. your current Specifications at this point included the aircraft would end up being produced right due to the 30 mm rotary cannon. your current RFP likewise specified a maximum speed involving 460 mph (400 kn; 740 km/h), takeoff distance connected with 4,000 feet (1,200 m), external load associated with 16,000 pounds (7,300 kg), 285-mile (460 km) mission radius, ALONG WITH a unit cost regarding US$1.4 million.[11] your current A-X will be the primary USAF aircraft formulated exclusively pertaining to close air support.[12] throughout this time, the separate RFP are unveiled regarding A-X's 30 mm cannon in Requirements regarding a high rate connected with fire (4,000 round/minute) ALONG WITH a great high muzzle velocity.[13] six to eight providers submitted aircraft proposals, inside Northrop ALONG WITH Fairchild Republic picked in order to build prototypes: ones YA-9A AS WELL AS YA-10A, respectively. General Electric AND Philco-Ford were chosen to be able to build AND ALSO test GAU-8 cannon prototypes.[14]
Two YA-10 prototypes were manufactured for the Republic factory within Farmingdale, New York IN ADDITION TO very first flew in 10 can 1972 via pilot Howard "Sam" Nelson. Production A-10's were built on Fairchild throughout Hagerstown, Maryland. soon after trials AND an fly-off against your own YA-9, with 18 January 1973, your current USAF announced your YA-10's menus regarding production.[15] General Electric are selected to help create your own GAU-8 cannon in June 1973.[16] the YA-10 had the extra fly-off inside 1974 against your current Ling-Temco-Vought A-7D Corsair II, the principal USAF attack aircraft in the time, for you to prove your current need pertaining to the latest attack aircraft. your primary production A-10 flew throughout October 1975, IN ADDITION TO deliveries commenced with March 1976. within total, 715 airplanes were produced, your own last delivered with 1984.[17]
One experimental two-seat A-10 Night Adverse Weather (N/AW) version am built coming from converting a A-10A.[18] your N/AW was produced through Fairchild with the 1st Demonstration Testing AS WELL AS Evaluation (DT&E) A-10 pertaining to consideration by the USAF. That included a second seat for a weapons program officer responsible intended for electronic countermeasures (ECM), course-plotting ALONG WITH target acquisition. ones N/AW version did not interest your current USAF or even export customers. ones two-seat trainer version feel obtained by the Air The strain with 1981, but funding are canceled through U.S. Congress as well as the jet feel not produced.[19] ones singular two-seat A-10 produced currently resides with Edwards Air Weight Base's Flight Test Center Museum.[20]
Upgrades
The A-10 has got quite a few upgrades over the years. by 1978 onwards, the Pave Penny laser receiver pod am adopted, that receives reflected laser radiation coming from laser designators with regard to faster AND more accurate target identification.[21][22] the A-10 began receiving an inertial routing technique within 1980.[23] the Low-Altitude safety AND Targeting Enhancement (LASTE) upgrade provided computerized weapon-aiming equipment, an autopilot, AS WELL AS a good ground-collision warning system. ones A-10 is usually compatible throughout night vision goggles regarding low-light operation. with 1999, aircraft began obtaining Global Positioning technique navigation systems IN ADDITION TO the multi-function display.[24] ones LASTE program feel upgraded throughout Integrated Flight & Fire Control Computers (IFFCC).[25]
An A-10A associated with pre-glass cockpit design
In 2005, your own entire A-10 fleet began acquiring your Precision Engagement upgrades that accompany the improved fire control technique (FCS), electronic countermeasures (ECM), AS WELL AS smart bomb targeting. Aircraft which got your upgrade are generally redesignated A-10C; run \'m to help always be performed inside 2011.[26] your current Government Accounting section throughout 2007 estimated ones cost regarding upgrading, refurbishing, AND SERVICE life extension plans for its A-10 The load in order to complete $2.25 billion during 2013.[12][27] the Air Weight Material Command's Ogden Air Logistics Center on Hill AFB, Utah accomplished work with it\'s 100th A-10 precision engagement upgrade within January 2008.[28]
In 2007, your A-10 \'m title to a ASSISTANCE life extension technique (SLEP);[29] Boeing are awarded an contract in order to generate In the same way quite a few In the same way 242 A-10 wing sets within June 2007.[30] in November 2011, 2 A-10s flew through the new wings fitted. with September 2013, ones USAF awarded Boeing a good $212 thousand follow-on contract intended for 56 new wings, increasing your overall purchased to 173. Re-winging improves mission readiness, decreases maintenance costs, AND permits ones A-10 for you to become operated up to 2035.[31] throughout plans to be able to retire ones A-10, your USAF obtained halting the wing replacement program, saving a added $500 million upon your current total savings associated with retiring your own fleet,[32] coming for you to $4.2 billion.[33] from can 2015, ones re-winging system was too far in to your own contract in order to possibly be financially efficient for you to cancel.[34]
In 2012, Air Combat Command questioned the testing of your 600-gallon external fuel tank that will would extend your A-10's loitering day from 45–60 minutes; flight testing associated with such a tank am conducted in 1997, but did not involve combat evaluation. over 30 flight tests were conducted through the 40th Flight Test Squadron in order to gather info for the aircraft's handling characteristics IN ADDITION TO performance across additional populate configurations. the tank slightly reduced security in the yaw axis, however there\'s no lower inside aircraft tracking performance.[35]
In July 2010, the USAF issued Raytheon a great contract for you to integrate a great Helmet Mounted Integrated Targeting (HMIT) technique upon A-10Cs.[27] the Gentex institution Scorpion Helmet Mounted Cueing process (HMCS) feel additionally evaluated.[36] in February 2014, Secretary of the Air The stress Deborah Lee James obtained It development regarding Suite eight software upgrade continue, with response for you to Congressional pressure. Software upgrades were originally in order to be ceased due in order to plans to help retire your A-10. Suite seven software consists of IFF Mode 5, which modernizes your own ability connected with friendly items to spot your current A-10 being a friendly aircraft.
