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| The A-10 Thunderbolt II Flying Tank To Land In Ukraine To Face Russian Artillery |
Washington - The United States recently expressed interest in supplying fighter jets to Ukraine. Quoted from the Washington Post, the United States Air Force Chief of Staff said it would supply fighter jets there. "Although it's uncertain what kind will be sent," said General Brown.
Brown stressed that it would be able to provide non-Russian fighter jets, such as from the US and Europe. Such fighter jets include the Swedish-made JAS-39 "Gripen", the French-made Dassault "Rafale" and the Eurofighter "Typhoon".
But interestingly, on the same occasion, US Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said, "It is possible that the US will hand over the A-10 Thunderbolt II attack jets to the Ukrainian army."
Read Also: Tensions Rise, US Plans to Send 3 Types of Fighter Jets to Ukraine
Quoted from Defense View, the A-10 Thunderbolt II itself is not a "weapon" used to attack aerial objects. This attack jet is purely ground attack, so the A-10 craves absolute air superiority during its flight missions.
Therefore, the European side also needs to send its fighter jets to overcome this problem. Given the war is now reaching a new chapter, where long range artillery attack systems are used. With the A-10 Thunderbolt II, Ukraine can level Russian artillery for sure.
Tank Destroyer Flying Tank
Nicknamed the flying tank, it is a heavy weapon in air support missions for ground combat units. The A-10 Thunderbolt II is one of the world's leading symbols, namely a fighter jet with armor, low flight, high attack power, and ground unit support role.
This attack jet was born after the US military learned from its experiences on the Vietnam battlefield. Beginning in 1972, the US Air Force recognized the need for specialized aircraft for ground attack purposes.
Quoted from The Aviation Geek Club, Prior to the A-10 Thunderbolt II, the US used the F-4 Phantom, F-111, and A-1 Skyraider for ground attack missions, but these three aircraft were not good enough. The first thing you see on the A-10 is the iconic GAU-8 gatling gun mounted on the nose of the plane. It's a brutal machine cannon that can release 4,000 rounds per minute
This cannon is specially designed to penetrate armor, allowing it to destroy tanks. In addition, there are 11 hardpoints on the wings of the A-10 which can carry a total of 7.2 tons of weapons. These hardpoints can carry conventional bombs, cluster bombs, air-to-air missiles, such as the AGM-65 Maverick and AIM-9 Sidewinders.
Although specifically designed to carry full weapons, the A-10 has excellent maneuverability even at low altitude. With a wide combat radius and short takeoff and landing capabilities, making it flexible in "entry and exit" near the battlefield.
In addition, pilots will be pampered with night vision so they can operate in dark conditions or at night. Coupled with a rounded canopy shape to provide comprehensive vision for the pilot. For durability, the A-10 Thunderbolt II can withstand direct attacks from live bullets and high-explosive projectiles up to 23 mm.
A-10 Thunderbolt II Unique Facts
The A-10 Thunderbolt II was first delivered to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, in October 1975 under the name A-10A. The newest version, the upgraded A-10C entered its operational mission in September 2007.
Also called the A-10 Warthog because it has an aggressive look with tooth-shaped paint on the muzzle. The A-10 Thunderbolt II is the primary close air support aircraft of the United States Air Force or USAF.
The A-10 Thunderbolt II has undergone many upgrades over the years, Warthog getting the Pave Penny laser pod in 1978. Then in 1980, the attack jet got an inertial navigation system, as well as Security and Low Targeting (LASTE) improvements.
LASTE provides computerized weapon targeting equipment, autopilot, and a ground collision warning system. In 1999, aircraft began receiving the Global Positioning System navigation system and a new multifunction display.
In 2005, the A 10 received major upgrades, such as targeting and weaponry. This version is known as A 10C with digital cockpit display, GPS and more.
One testament to the Thunderbolt II's versatility is that it can be serviced even in bases with limited facilities. The fuselage can also be disassembled with different left and right modules, including the engine, main landing gear and vertical stabilizers.