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Air ForcesUnited States

A-10 Thunderbolt II (Warthog)

Close air support aircraftFielded 1976Pending verification

Also known as: A-10A Warthog

Air ForcesUSA
A-10 Thunderbolt II (Warthog)
Photo: Airman 1st Class Mikaley Kline · Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
Fact cardConfidence · Source
System
TypeClose air support aircraft
Alternative designationsA-10A Warthog
Date of introduction1976
ProliferationAt least 2 countries
ManufacturerFairchild-Republic, Farmingdale, Long Island, N.Y. and Lockheed Martin Systems, Owego, N.Y. (A-10C platform-wide upgrade)Med[1]
Crew1Med[1]
Dimensions and weight
Length16.26 m53 ftMed[1]
Wingspan17.53 m58 ftMed[1]
Height4.47 m15 ftMed[1]
Wing area47 sq mMed[1]
Flight performance
EngineGeneral Electric TF34-GE-100Med[1]
Thrust / power4,112 kg (static thrust each)Med[1]
Protection
EW countermeasuresusing jammer pods and countermeasure flares. Also features electronic support measures (ESM) such as the Litton ALR-46/ALR-69 radar warning receiver.Med[1]
Chaff / flaresYesMed[1]
Cockpit ArmorThe single-seat cockpit is protected by all-round armor, with a titanium ‘bathtub’ structure to protect the pilot that is up to 3.8cm thick.Med[1]
Armament and payload
Hardpoints11 Pylons (eight under wing, three under fuselage)Med[1]
Performance: speed (max)367 knots (423 mph, 681 km/h)Med[1]
Performance: speed (cruise)300 knots (345 mph, 555 km/h)Med[1]
Performance: range radius (typical load)250 nm (290 mi, 460 km) w/9,000-lb (4,310-kg) weapons load, 1.8 hour loiterMed[1]
Performance: range radius (deep strike)540 nm (620 mi, 1,000 km)Med[1]
Performance: ferry range2,209 nm (2,542 mi, 4,091 km)Med[1]
Performance: climb rate6,000 ft/min (1,829 m/min)Med[1]
Performance: ceiling45,000 ft (13,720 m)Med[1]
Main Gun System: api (aerojet)Armor Piercing Incendiary, 26.4 oz (748 g)Med[1]
Main Gun System: api, pgu-14/bAPI round has a lightweight body which contains a sub-caliber high density penetrator of Depleted Uranium (DU).Med[1]
Main Gun System: api (honeywell)Armor Piercing Incendiary, 25.3 oz (717 g)Med[1]
Main Gun System: hei/tpHigh Explosive Incendiary / Target Practice, 24.5 oz (694 g)Med[1]
Main Gun System: hei, pgu-13/bHEI round with high density Depleted Uranium (DU).Med[1]
Weapons Load: mark 82 load (pure)18 x Mark 82 500-lb (227-kg) bombsMed[1]
Weapons Load: mark 84 load (pure)6 x Mark 84 2,000-lb (907-kg) bombsMed[1]
Weapons Load: agm-65 load (pure)6 x AGM-65 Maverick Air-to-Ground MissilesMed[1]
Weapons Load: rockeye package (pure)18 x Rockeye II Cluster BombsMed[1]
Weapons Load: mark 82 gbu-54 laser-guided / jdam package6 x 500-lb (227-kg) Laser-guided BombsMed[1]
Weapons Load: mark 84 gbu-54 laser-guided / jdam package4 x 2,000-lb (907-kg) Laser-guided BombsMed[1]
Weapons Load: noteAll loads include basic load for the GAU-8/A main gun.; Other combinations available based on mission parameters.Med[1]
ArmamentGAU-8/A; Mark 82; Mark 84; Mark 20 (Rockeye II); AGM-65 Maverick; AIM-9 SidewinderMed[1]
Fire control
RadioHave-Quick, secure radio communications systemMed[1]
Fire Control System TypeIntegrated Flight & Fire Control Computer (IFFCC)Med[1]
Fire Control RadarSynthetic Aperture Radar pod.Med[1]
NavigationInertial navigation and a tactical air navigation (TACAN) system.Med[1]
Terrain MappingBAE Systems terrain profile matching systems (TERPROM).Med[1]
Targeting PodSniper XR targeting pod which features mid-wave FLIR (forward-looking infrared), dual mode laser, CCD-TV, laser spot tracker and IR marker.Med[1]
Variants
A-10 (A-10A)First production model.[1]
A-10 N/AWThis was a company-funded two-seat prototype for the night/adverse weather (N/AW) mission. It featured a second, elevated seat for a weapons system officer (WSO); a Westinghouse multi-mode radar; Texas Instruments forward-looking infrared (FLIR) sensor…[1]
OA-10A-10 aircraft were re-designated for forward air control (FAC) duties beginning in October 1987 as a replacement for the OV-10 Bronco.[1]
A-10CThis variant features updated controls (some borrowed from supersonic jets), computers and digital targeting equipment as part of a major electronics overhaul.[1]
Other UpgradesThe low-altitude safety and target enhancement (LASTE) program involved Grumman Aircraft Systems and General Electric. The development program sought to fit a ground-collision avoidance system (GCAS) to improve low-level survivability; and enhanced altitude…[1]
Weapons and payload options · 6Confidence · Source
GAU-8/AMulti-barrel cannon in fuselage
Med[1]
Quantity
1,174 rds (in rear-mounted drum w/link-less feed)
Type
Multi-barrel cannon in fuselage
Caliber
30 mm
Rate of fire
3,900 rds/min
Mark 82High Explosive Bomb
Med[1]
Type
High Explosive Bomb
Length
87.4 inches (2.22 m)
Mark 84High Explosive Bomb
Med[1]
Type
High Explosive Bomb
Length
129 in (3280 mm)
Mark 20 (Rockeye II)Anti-tank Cluster Bomb
Med[1]
Type
Anti-tank Cluster Bomb
AGM-65 MaverickAir-to-Ground Missile
Med[1]
Type
Air-to-Ground Missile
Warhead
57 kg WDU-20/B shaped-charge (A/B/C/D/H models), 136 kg WDU-24/B penetrating blast-fragmentation (E/F/G/J/K models) and
Length
8 ft 2 in (249 cm)
AIM-9 SidewinderAir-to-Air Missile
Med[1]
Type
Air-to-Air Missile
Warhead
WDU-17/B annular blast-frag, 20.8 lb (9.4 kg), detonation mechanism is an IR proximity fuse
Length
9 feet 11 inches (3.02 m)
Summary

The A-10 Thunderbolt II is the U.S. Air Force’s primary low-altitude close air support aircraft. The A-10 is perhaps best known for its fearsome GAU-8 Avenger 30mm Gatling gun mounted on the nose.

Draft entry. Values come from the cited public sources and are awaiting editor verification.
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Operators
United States
Sources
  1. A-10 Thunderbolt II (Warthog) American Close Air Support Aircraft, U.S. Army TRADOC G-2 Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN)
    Published/updated 2026-03-20 · Tier 1 · checked 2026-10-10
Change log
  • 2026-10-10 Entry created from the Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN), bulk import
  • 2026-10-10 Added photo (Public domain)