Premier US tank-busting aircraft flying off from Clark Air Base

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 25): Premier US tank-busting aircraft flying off from Clark Air Base

The Fairchild Republic A-10C "Thunderbolt II," the US military's premier tank-busting aircraft, participated in the first American maritime situational awareness flight which took off from Clark Air Base last April 19.

The flight consists of four A-10Cs and two HH-60G "Pavehawk" helicopters.

These aircraft are part of the US Pacific Command’s Air Contingent deployed to Clark Air Base, in Angeles City, Pampanga.

The A-10 has an excellent maneuverability at low air speeds and altitude, and is a highly accurate and survivable weapons-delivery platform.

The aircraft can loiter near battle areas for extended periods of time and operate in low ceiling and visibility conditions.

The wide combat radius and short takeoff and landing capability permit operations in and out of locations near front lines.

Using night vision goggles, A-10 pilots can conduct their missions during darkness.

Thunderbolt IIs have night vision imaging systems (NVIS), goggle compatible single-seat cockpits forward of their wings and a large bubble canopy which provides pilots all-around vision.

The pilots are protected by titanium armor that also protects parts of the flight-control system.

The redundant primary structural sections allow the aircraft to enjoy better survivability during close air support than the previous aircraft.

The A-10 can survive direct hits from armor-piercing and high explosive projectiles up to 23mm.

Their self-sealing fuel cells are protected by internal and external foam.

Manual systems back up their redundant hydraulic flight-control systems. This permits pilots to fly and land when hydraulic power is lost.

The A-10 has received many upgrades over the years. In 1978, the aircraft received the "Pave Penny" laser receiver pod, which sensed reflected laser radiation from a laser designator.

"Pave Penney" has now been discontinued in favor more capable advanced targeting pods.

The A-10 began receiving an inertial navigation system in 1980.

Later, the low-altitude safety and targeting enhancement (LASTE) upgrade provided computerized weapon-aiming equipment, an autopilot, and a ground-collision warning system. In 1999, aircraft began to receive global positioning system navigation systems and a new multi-function display.

In 2005, the entire A-10 fleet began receiving the precision engagement upgrades that include an improved fire control system, electronic countermeasures, upgraded cockpit displays, the ability to deliver smart bombs, moving map display, hands on throttle and stick, digital stores management, "LITENING" and "Sniper" advanced targeting pod integration, situational awareness data link (SADL), variable message format (VMF) and global positioning system (GPS) guided weapons, and upgraded power systems.

The entire A-10 fleet has been modified through precision engagement and now carries the A-10C designation.

The Thunderbolt II can be serviced and operated from austere bases with limited facilities near battle areas.

Many of the aircraft's parts are interchangeable left and right, including the engines, main landing gear and vertical stabilizers.

Avionics equipment includes multi-band communications; GPS and inertial navigations systems; infrared and electronic countermeasures against air-to-air and air-to-surface threats.

And, it has a heads-up display to display flight and weapons delivery information.

The A-10 can employ a wide variety of conventional munitions, including general purpose bombs, cluster bomb units, laser guided bombs, joint direct attack munitions or JDAM, wind corrected munitions dispenser or WCMD, AGM-65 Maverick and AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles, rockets, illumination flares, and the GAU-8/A 30mm cannon, capable of firing 3,900 rounds per minute to defeat a wide variety of targets including tanks.

The deployment of these aircraft, which have remained behind in the Philippines after participating in "Balikatan" 2016, will include conducting operations such as air and maritime domain awareness, personnel recovery, combating piracy, and helping to assure that all nations have access to air and sea domains throughout the region in accordance with international law.

All operations and deployments are planned and executed with the consent and cooperation of the Philippine government.

The April 19 maritime situational awareness operation took the A-10s and HH-60s through international airspace to the west of Luzon.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=879249