Here is a concise summary of the A-10 Thunderbolt (Warthog) aircraft:
**Key Characteristics:**
* **Role:** Close Air Support (CAS), tank destroyer, and ground attack
* **Nicknames:** Warthog, Tank Buster
* **Introduced:** 1977 (US Air Force)
* **Speed:** Typically cruises at 365 knots (420 mph), operates at 300 knots (345 mph) or less
* **Armament:** Notably, a 30mm GAU-8 Avenger rotary cannon with armor-piercing, self-sharpening rounds
* **Survivability Features:**
+ Titanium armor plating around the cockpit (3.8 cm thick)
+ Redundant primary structural sections and control systems
+ Self-healing fuel tanks
+ Ability to fly with one engine destroyed
**Capabilities:**
* **Precision:** Can deliver ordnance within 20 feet of ground troops without endangering them
* **Versatility:** Supports various munitions, including surface-to-air missiles (e.g., Sidewinder)
* **Dogfighting:** Surprisingly effective due to a tight turning radius and ranged armament
* **Operational Flexibility:** Suitable for makeshift environments with short or improvised landing strips
**Impact:**
* **Combat History:** Instrumental in several US conflicts (e.g., Grenada, Balkans, Afghanistan, Iraq, War on Terror)
* **Reputation:** Feared by enemies, credited with saving countless lives, and a game-changer in modern warfare.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text, numbered and in short sentences:
**Aircraft Specifications**
1. The official name of the "Warthog" is the A-10 Thunderbolt.
2. The A-10 was first introduced to the US Air Force in 1977.
3. The A-10 has a range of approximately 800 miles.
4. The aircraft typically cruises at around 365 knots (420 mph).
5. For most missions, it flies at around 300 knots (345 mph) or less.
**Design and Features**
6. The A-10 has a short landing capability and oversized, rugged wheels.
7. Its landing gear is only partly retractable, with half of each main wheel protruding.
8. The cockpit, known as the "titanium tub", has 3.8 cm thick titanium armor plating.
9. The aircraft features a bullet-proof bubble canopy for all-around visibility.
10. The cockpit is equipped with a heads-up display, targeting system, and more.
11. The A-10 has 11 pylons for external loads, including extra fuel and rockets.
**Armament**
12. The A-10's primary weapon is the 30mm GAU-8 Avenger rotary cannon.
13. The GAU-8 is a hydraulically driven, seven-barrel rotary cannon designed to defeat armored vehicles.
14. The cannon fires large armor-piercing shells with depleted uranium cores.
15. The rounds are self-sharpening for maximum damage upon impact.
16. The A-10 can also carry surface-to-air missiles, including Sidewinder missiles.
**Operational Capabilities**
17. The A-10 is suitable for makeshift environments with short or improvised landing strips.
18. It can fly low and slow, effectively targeting enemies of all sizes.
19. The aircraft can put ordnance as close as 20 feet away from ground troops without putting them in danger.
20. It has electronic guidance, laser support, and can engage in air-to-air combat with a tighter turning radius than most fighters.
**Survivability and Engine**
21. The A-10 has redundant primary structural sections, making it highly survivable.
22. It features redundant control systems on opposite sides of the plane.
23. The aircraft has self-healing fuel tanks that can automatically plug punctures.
24. The non-after-burning turbofan engine, supplied by General Electric, provides over 9,000 pounds of thrust.
25. The engine's location allows the plane to fly even if one engine is completely destroyed.