A-10C Thunderbolt II Wins Technological Thumbs-Up

The first A-10C Thunderbolt II sits on the ramp after its arrival Aug. 7 at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. This aircraft is the first of approximately 50 upgraded A-10Cs moving to the Georgia base as a part of force realignment. The move is expected to be complete in early spring 2008. The upgrades enable the A-10C to deliver the Air Force's latest generation of precision-guided munitions and improve the A-10's communications capabilities, allowing the aircraft to share detailed information with ground-based warfighters. Credit: U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Parker Gyokeres

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. -- The Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II has received the most significant modifications in its 30-year history, according to Lt. Col. Ralph Hansen, chief of A-10 requirements for the U.S. Air Force's Air Combat Command (ACC).

The precision-engagement-modified A-10C was awarded Initial Operational Capability status Aug. 21, during a ceremony at Langley Air Force Base.

Its modifications give A-10C pilots better battlefield capabilities. Upgrades to the now-digital A-10C include a "hands-on-throttle and stick," which allows the pilot to drop bombs or switch positions without taking his or her hands off the throttle or stick. With another upgrade, a new situational awareness data link, the pilot links the targeting pod to a target and the new system determines the target's coordinates.

Additionally, the new 1760 data bus that runs most of the weapons systems allows the A-10C to use joint direct attack munitions, or JDAM, and wind-corrected munitions dispensers. The new upgrades also include a digital stores management system. This computer system keeps track of the munitions loaded on to the aircraft and identifies those remaining on board at any given time.

The A-10 is best known for its close-air support, airborne forward air controller, and combat search and rescue missions. The A-10C can be used against all ground targets, including tanks and other armored vehicles. The upgrades will only enhance those capabilities, according to one pilot.

"The main benefit of the A-10C is the inter-connectivity between the pilot, the weapons and the targets," said Lt. Col. Timothy G. Smith, commander of the 104th Fighter Squadron of the Maryland Air National Guard. The 104th is the first to receive the new upgrades, just in time for the unit's upcoming deployment to Iraq, he said.

The advantage of all the new digital systems and weaponry is that "the pilots can see much better than they have in the past and perform in all weather," said Stephen Ramsey, executive vice president of Lockheed Martin Systems Integration - Owego. "It is much more than subsystems working together -- it is actually all of them integrated together to perform seamlessly," he said.

New wiring on the A-10C enables it to carry the Lockheed Martin Sniper XR or Northrop Grumman Litening AT advanced-targeting pods. The targeting pods can link up two aircraft or an aircraft to the air–to-ground forces below to locate and lock on to targets.

What previously would have taken several minutes to half an hour can now be done in seconds, said Lt. Col. Eric Mann, 104th FS operational requirements division chief for the Guard.

"The A-10C now has the ability to link up and identify targets as a collective with ground forces and any other sources without each individual aircraft having to search and find them," he said.

One of the key factors in the successful A-10 upgrade is the "total force effort where it includes all of our industry partners. (It) includes the reserves, includes the active duty and certainly our Air National Guard brothers," said Gen. Ronald E. Keys, commander of ACC.

With around 75 A-10s currently upgraded, the project to modernize the 356 A-10As will cost around $500 million and is scheduled for completion by 2011.

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