US Central Command reveals first documentation of A-10 attack aircraft

The aircraft in question, originally developed by the Fairchild Republic company in the seventies of the last century, was designed for one main purpose and that is the destruction of the armored forces of the Soviet Union in the event of an invasion of Europe, its structure is unique in the landscape of military aviation and it looks almost as if it was built around the central weapon in it, the GAU-8 Avenger cannon, a formidable 30 mm cannon that occupies a significant portion of the body the plane.

The cannon is capable of firing shells containing depleted uranium at an imaginary rate of fire of 3,900 shells per minute, even though the plane carries only 1,150 shells in its belly, each press of the trigger releases a deadly bundle that penetrates thick steel and neutralizes any armored vehicle in a matter of seconds, the unique sound of the cannon has become one of the most recognizable features of the plane on the modern battlefield.

The structure of the plane includes straight and wide wings that give it excellent maneuverability at very low altitudes, in which the plane is equipped with two fan turbo engines located at the rear above the fuselage, this location is intended to protect them from fire from the ground and from heat guided missiles, since the fuselage and tail hide the heat emission of the engines from certain angles.

One of the most outstanding features of the plane is its survivability, the pilot sits inside a structure known as a “titanium bath” that weighs hundreds of kilograms and is able to withstand direct hits from shells up to 23 mm in diameter, the plane’s hydraulic systems are dual and there is also a manual backup system that allows the pilot to continue to control the plane and land safely even if the electrical and hydraulic systems have been severely damaged.

There have been many cases in the past where the plane returned to its base missing significant parts of the wings or tail after receiving heavy anti-aircraft fire, this fact made it especially beloved by the pilots and the ground forces who see it as a guardian angel.

The illustrations that decorate the nose of the plane have become its visual hallmark, these are drawings of shark or wild boar teeth that give the plane a threatening and aggressive look, this tradition that began back in World War II continues with the A-10 and its purpose is also psychological, to terrorize the enemy who sees the armored monster approaching it at low altitude, the images published by the US Central Command show the planes armed with a wide variety of laser-guided bombs and Maverick missiles, indicating that they are ready for any possible scenario in the field.

For the members of the Iranian security forces, this is very bad news, the presence of the A-10 in the sky means that any movement of supply convoys, missile launchers or concentrations of forces is exposed to a deadly attack that is very difficult to defend against, the absolute air superiority of the USA and Israel allows these planes to operate almost without interruption, as they scan the area and look for quality targets.

The fact that the aircraft is able to stay over a certain area for a long time makes it a perfect tool for “hunting mission” missions where the goal is to exhaust the enemy and damage his mobile infrastructure consistently.

Although there have been attempts in the past to take the aircraft out of service in favor of more modern models, its performance in the field has proven time and time again that it has no real replacement in close assistance missions, the A-10 is not just a plane but a well-oiled war machine that combines heavy armor technology with air attack capability, the combination of skilled pilots together with a fire rate of 3,900 shells per minute creates a significant deterrent in any arena in which it operates.

The inclusion of the aircraft in the current operation makes it clear that the forces are working with determination to neutralize any ground threat and that controlling the skies is only the first step on the way to achieving the operational goals.

While tensions in the region are rising, the documentation coming from the field shows that the planes are already taking an active part in complex missions, the plane’s ability to carry up to 7,200 kilograms of armaments over 11 different hanging points makes it a flying weapons depot, it can carry combinations of surface-to-air missiles, rockets and smart bombs, all while maintaining impressive stability even in difficult weather conditions or under fire, the current campaign proves Once again, the aircraft’s engineering design from five decades ago is still relevant and effective against modern threats, especially when the goal is to protect forces in the field and destroy pinpoint targets with maximum precision.