A-10A Thunderbolt II

Named after the WWII P-47 Thunderbolt, the A-10A Thunderbolt II is the first Air Force aircraft specially designed for close air support of ground forces. A more perfered name is the Warthog. It is a simple, effective and survivable twin-engine, non afterburning, jet aircraft that can be used against all ground targets, including tanks and other armored vehicles. The primary mission of the A-10 is to provide day and night close air combat support for friendly land forces and to act as forward air controller (FAC) to coordinate and direct friendly air forces in support of land forces. As well the GAU-8 comes in handy with Air to Air missions, only if can handle the effets it has. The A-10 has a secondary mission of supporting search and rescue and Special Forces operations. It also possesses a limited capability to perform certain types of interdiction. All of these missions may take place in a high or low threat environment.

Description
The A/OA-10 aircraft was specifically developed as a close air support aircraft with reliability and maintainability as major design considerations. The Air Force requirements documents emphasized payload, low altitude flying capability, range and loiter capability, low speed maneuverability and weapons delivery accuracy. The aircraft is capable of worldwide deployment and operation from austere bases with minimal support equipment. Specific survivability features include titanium armor plated cockpit, redundant flight control system separated by fuel tanks, manual reversion mode for flight controls, foam filled fuel tanks, ballistic foam void fillers, and a redundant primary structure providing "get home" capability after being hit. Some A-10s have had one vertical stabilizer blown off and the plane still returned to base. Design simplicity, ease of access and left to right interchangeable components make the A/OA-10 aircraft readily maintainable and suitable for deployment at advanced bases. It was nicknamed the Warthog for its almost ugly appearance. The Warthog is also one of few Ace Combat aircraft that does not have swept wings. This wing design allows pilots to carry large payloads into battle.

Standard Weapons

 * Gun: 1x 30mm GAU-8/A 'Avenger' Gatling Gun
 * Missiles: 2x AIM-9M Sidewinder

Special Weapons

 * RCL: LAU-69 Rocket Pods (ACZ & AC6)
 * XAGM: AGM-65D Maverick (AC04, AC5, ACZ, ACX & AC6, ACX2)
 * FAEB: BLU-73/B (ACZ, ACX & AC6)
 * UGBL: Mk-84 2000lb Bomb (AC04)
 * SFFS: CBU-97 Sensor Fused Weapon (ACX)
 * CLB: IMI Anti Runway Submunitions (AC04)
 * GPB: GBU-12 Paveway II (ACX2)

Air Combat

 * Stability: 100
 * Defense: 100
 * Offense: 90
 * Power: 10
 * Mobility: 90

Ace Combat 2

 * Power: 30
 * Defense: 70
 * Mobility: 50
 * Stability: 100
 * Climbing Ability: 30
 * Air-to-Air: 40
 * Air-to-Ground: 90

Ace Combat 5/Zero

 * Speed: 39
 * Mobility: 34
 * Stability: 65
 * Defense: 94
 * Air-to-Air: 17
 * Air-to-Ground: 74

Ace Combat X

 * Speed: 30
 * ATA: 12
 * ATG: 95
 * Mob: 36
 * Stab: 94
 * Def: 99

Ace Squadrons/Pilots

 * Sally: STFS (AC)
 * Cliffred: FEAF (AC4)
 * Storch: BAF (ACZ)
 * Fischer: BAF (ACZ)
 * Pelikan: BAF (ACZ)
 * Firestorm: LAF (ACX)
 * Rytsary: EAF (AC6)
 * M42 Squadron: Martinez Security (ACX2)
 * Stingray: REAF (AC6)
 * Sawfish: REAF (AC6)
 * Whipray: REAF (AC6)
 * Daniel Oruma: Valahia (ACX2)

Related Development

 * YA-10B

Comparable Aircraft

 * YA-9
 * Su-25 Frogfoot
 * AV-8B Harrier II
 * Harrier GR.7
 * A-37 Dragonfly

Trivia

 * The P-47 and A-10 were both designed for close air support therefore the A-10 took over the Thunderbolt's name when it entered service.
 * The A-10's other name, "Warthog", comes from the popular, nose art design of a Warthog's face on the GAU-8/A Gatling gun.