Difference between revisions of "A-10A"
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== Usage in battles == | == Usage in battles == | ||
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| − | The A-10A is extremely effective in ground battles as long as it is used the right way. There are two methods for ground attack, and the tactic used is dictated by the amount of threats on the ground. | + | The A-10A is extremely effective in ground battles as long as it is used the right way. There are two methods for ground attack, and the tactic used is dictated by the amount of threats on the ground. A Low Risk situation is when there are no enemy SPAAs or fighters. When performing an attack run, start at a higher altitude, drop ordnance and fire the Avenger then escape for another attack run. In a High Risk environment, where there are enemy SPAAs, stay low and (relatively) fast. This allows pilots to stay below SPAA radar and lines of fire. When attacking, use intel from friendly ground forces to make precision strikes, then retreat after a single pass. After one pass, enemy SPAA will know that there is an A-10, and be more alert. When trying to escape enemy fire after an attack run, preemptively dump chaff and flares in groups of at least four, and bank hard left and right until out of immediate range. AGM-65A Maverick AGMs are effective at up to 8km, but keep in mind that any locked enemy has time to move behind cover before the missile impacts. When firing Mavericks, attempt to target enemy SPAAs that have not left spawn before targeting enemy MBTs. You can then use the ballistic computer for the GAU-8 and fire at any ground target. Because of the GAU-8s high penetration and extremely high rate of fire, the rounds will manage to go through any tank even the heaviest armored MBTs. Remember that even though the A-10 is a ground attack fighter, it is still equipped with AIM-9L AAMs, and can compete with a fighter in a 1v1. The A-10 has an incredible first turn, so if attacked, use this turn rate to swing around and fire a missile. However you do not want to allow any enemy aircraft to get the first shot on you, so keep an eye out for enemy aircraft. |
In air battles, the A-10A is way less potent but still decent. It has two all-aspect AIM-9Ls which can pull 30G, at this BR this is almost two guaranteed kills. However, it struggles because of its very low top speed: any jet can easily outrun it. You can score some kills with the GAU-8 cannon but you are outclassed at that BR because of its poor flight performance in air-to-air combat. | In air battles, the A-10A is way less potent but still decent. It has two all-aspect AIM-9Ls which can pull 30G, at this BR this is almost two guaranteed kills. However, it struggles because of its very low top speed: any jet can easily outrun it. You can score some kills with the GAU-8 cannon but you are outclassed at that BR because of its poor flight performance in air-to-air combat. | ||
Revision as of 19:24, 22 April 2022
| This page is about the American premium strike aircraft A-10A. For the regular version, see A-10A Late. |
Contents
Description
The A-10A Thunderbolt II (Early) is a premium gift rank VI American strike aircraft with a battle rating of 10.0 (AB), 10.3 (RB), and 10.7 (SB). It was introduced in Update "Wind of Change".
General info
Flight performance
The A-10A is a very slow plane at its BR but it retains good manoeuvrability, even when carrying a large payload.
| Characteristics | Max Speed (km/h at 0 m - sea level) |
Max altitude (metres) |
Turn time (seconds) |
Rate of climb (metres/second) |
Take-off run (metres) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AB | RB | AB | RB | AB | RB | |||
| Stock | 624 | 609 | 12497 | 30.2 | 30.8 | 21.0 | 19.9 | 700 |
| Upgraded | 662 | 642 | 28.5 | 29.0 | 30.3 | 25.3 | ||
Details
| Features | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combat flaps | Take-off flaps | Landing flaps | Air brakes | Arrestor gear | Drogue chute |
| X | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | X | X |
| Limits | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wings (km/h) | Gear (km/h) | Flaps (km/h) | Max Static G | |||
| Combat | Take-off | Landing | + | - | ||
| 874 | 370.4 | N/A | 740 | 370 | ~__ | ~__ |
| Optimal velocities (km/h) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ailerons | Rudder | Elevators | Radiator |
| < 550 | < 650 | < 500 | N/A |
Engine performance
| Engine | Aircraft mass | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine name | Number | Basic mass | Wing loading (full fuel) | |||||
| General Electric TF34-GE-100A | 2 | 11,636 kg | ___ kg/m2 | |||||
| Engine characteristics | Mass with fuel (no weapons load) | Max Takeoff Weight | ||||||
| Weight (each) | Type | 14m fuel | 20m fuel | 30m fuel | 45m fuel | 48m fuel | ||
| 654 kg | High-bypass turbofan | 13,092 kg | 13,651 kg | 14,659 kg | 16,170 kg | 16,489 kg | _,___ kg | |
| Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB/SB) | Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (100%) | |||||||
| Condition | 100% | WEP | 14m fuel | 20m fuel | 30m fuel | 45m fuel | 48m fuel | MTOW |
| Stationary | 4,036 kgf | N/A | 0.62 | 0.59 | 0.55 | 0.50 | 0.49 | _.__ |
| Optimal | 4,036 kgf (0 km/h) |
N/A | 0.62 | 0.59 | 0.55 | 0.50 | 0.49 | _.__ |
Survivability and armour
The cockpit is where all of the extra armour plating is located, making the pilot have a high likelihood of surviving while leaving the fuel tanks, wings and engines without any armour. The armour is most effective against autocannons with the calibre of 25 mm or lower.
- 38 mm titanium alloy - Surrounding the bottom part of the cockpit.
- 44 mm bulletproof glass (54°) - Windshield.
Modifications and economy
2 × 100 / 300 / 600 % 2 × 226 / 226 / 226 % | Flight performance | Survivability | Weaponry | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
Armaments
| Ballistic Computer | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| CCIP (Guns) | CCIP (Rockets) | CCIP (Bombs) | CCRP (Bombs) |
 |
|
|
|
Offensive armament
The A-10A is armed with:
- A choice between two presets:
- 1 x 30 mm GAU-8/A cannon, chin-mounted (1,174 rpg)
- 1 x 30 mm GAU-8/A cannon + 480 x countermeasures
Suspended armament
The A-10A can be outfitted with the following ordnance:
- Without load
- 42 x Hydra-70 M247 rockets
- 84 x Hydra-70 M247 rockets
- 84 x Hydra-70 M247 rockets + 2 x AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles
- 10 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (5,000 lb total)
- 12 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (6,000 lb total)
- 12 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs + 2 x AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles (6,000 lb total)
- 6 x 2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bombs (12,000 lb total)
- 6 x 2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bombs + 2 x AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles (12,000 lb total)
- 4 x 2,000 lb GBU-8 bombs (8,000 lb total)
- 4 x 2,000 lb GBU-8 bombs + 2 x AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles (8,000 lb total)
- 6 x AGM-65B missiles
- 6 x AGM-65B missiles + 2 x AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles
- 2 x AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles
- 2 x 20 mm M61 cannons (1,200 rpg = 2,400 total)
Usage in battles
The A-10A is extremely effective in ground battles as long as it is used the right way. There are two methods for ground attack, and the tactic used is dictated by the amount of threats on the ground. A Low Risk situation is when there are no enemy SPAAs or fighters. When performing an attack run, start at a higher altitude, drop ordnance and fire the Avenger then escape for another attack run. In a High Risk environment, where there are enemy SPAAs, stay low and (relatively) fast. This allows pilots to stay below SPAA radar and lines of fire. When attacking, use intel from friendly ground forces to make precision strikes, then retreat after a single pass. After one pass, enemy SPAA will know that there is an A-10, and be more alert. When trying to escape enemy fire after an attack run, preemptively dump chaff and flares in groups of at least four, and bank hard left and right until out of immediate range. AGM-65A Maverick AGMs are effective at up to 8km, but keep in mind that any locked enemy has time to move behind cover before the missile impacts. When firing Mavericks, attempt to target enemy SPAAs that have not left spawn before targeting enemy MBTs. You can then use the ballistic computer for the GAU-8 and fire at any ground target. Because of the GAU-8s high penetration and extremely high rate of fire, the rounds will manage to go through any tank even the heaviest armored MBTs. Remember that even though the A-10 is a ground attack fighter, it is still equipped with AIM-9L AAMs, and can compete with a fighter in a 1v1. The A-10 has an incredible first turn, so if attacked, use this turn rate to swing around and fire a missile. However you do not want to allow any enemy aircraft to get the first shot on you, so keep an eye out for enemy aircraft.
In air battles, the A-10A is way less potent but still decent. It has two all-aspect AIM-9Ls which can pull 30G, at this BR this is almost two guaranteed kills. However, it struggles because of its very low top speed: any jet can easily outrun it. You can score some kills with the GAU-8 cannon but you are outclassed at that BR because of its poor flight performance in air-to-air combat.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Retains manoeuvrability with a heavy payload
- Exceptional roll rate
- Airframe can take a considerable amount of damage
- Deadly GAU-8 cannon
- High number and variety of suspended weapons
- Access to 2 x AIM-9L all-aspect missiles
- Extremely large amount of countermeasures
Cons:
- Very low top speed, making it an easy target both from the ground and in the sky
- Poor climb rate
History
Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the aircraft in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History) and add a link to it here using the main template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <ref></ref>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <references />. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under === In-game description ===, also if applicable).
Media
- Skins
- Images
See also
Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:
- reference to the series of the aircraft;
- links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.
External links
| Fairchild Aircraft | |
|---|---|
| Jet aircraft | A-10A · A-10A Late · A-10C |
| USA jet aircraft | |
|---|---|
| Fighters | |
| F9F | F9F-2 · F9F-5 · F9F-8 |
| F-80 | F-80A-5 · F-80C-10 |
| F-84 | F-84B-26 · F-84F · F-84G-21-RE |
| F-86 | F-86A-5 · F-86F-25 · F-86F-2 · F-86F-35 |
| F-89 | F-89B · F-89D |
| F-100 | F-100D |
| F-104 | F-104A · F-104C |
| F-4 | F-4C Phantom II · F-4E Phantom II · F-4J Phantom II · F-4S Phantom II |
| F-5 | F-5A · F-5C · F-5E · F-20A |
| F-8 | F8U-2 · F-8E |
| F-14 | F-14A Early · ▄F-14A IRIAF · F-14B |
| F-15 | F-15A · F-15C MSIP II · F-15E |
| F-16 | F-16A · F-16A ADF · F-16C |
| Other | P-59A · F2H-2 · F3D-1 · F3H-2 · F4D-1 · F11F-1 |
| Strike Aircraft | |
| FJ-4 | FJ-4B · FJ-4B VMF-232 |
| A-4 | A-4B · A-4E Early |
| A-7 | A-7D · A-7E · A-7K |
| AV-8 | AV-8A · AV-8C · AV-8B Plus · AV-8B (NA) |
| A-10 | A-10A · A-10A Late · A-10C |
| F-111 | F-111A · F-111F |
| Other | A-6E TRAM · F-105D · F-117 |
| Bombers | |
| B-57 | B-57A · B-57B |
| USA premium aircraft | |
|---|---|
| Fighters | Thach's F2A-1 · Galer's F3F-2 · F2G-1 · F4U-4B VMF-214 · P-26A-34 · Rasmussen's P-36A · P-40C · P-43A-1 |
| P-47M-1-RE · ⋠P-47M-1-RE · P-51A · P-51D-10 · P-51D-20-NA · ␠Kingcobra · XP-55 | |
| ▃A6M2 · ▃Ki-43-II · ▃Ki-61-Ib · ▃Bf 109 F-4 · ▃Fw 190 A-8 · ▃Spitfire LF Mk IXc | |
| Twin-engine fighters | XP-38G · Bong's P-38J-15 · P-38K · YP-38 · P-61A-11 · XF5F · XP-50 · F7F-3 |
| Jet fighters | P-59A · F-86F-35 · F-89B · F-89D · F-4S Phantom II · F-5C · F-20A |
| Strike aircraft | A-1H · A2D-1 · AU-1 · XA-38 · AV-8A · AV-8B (NA) · A-6E TRAM · A-10A |
| Bombers | A-26C-45DT · B-10B · BTD-1 · PBM-3 "Mariner" · PBM-5A "Mariner" · PV-2D |
