What does A-10 stand for?
A-10
| Acronym | Definition |
|---|---|
| A-10 | Thunderbolt II |
What is replacing the A-10?
In 2007, the USAF expected the A-10 to remain in service until 2028 and possibly later, when it would likely be replaced by the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II. However, critics have said that replacing the A-10 with the F-35 would be a “giant leap backwards” given the A-10’s performance and the F-35’s high costs.
How long is A-10 in service?
The U.S. Air Force has decided to keep the A-10 “Warthog” close air support jet in service until 2040. The jet, designed to dominate Cold War battlefields, will still be flying 50 years after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
How much is A-10?
Then there’s the unit cost. According to the Federation of American Scientists, an average A-10 cost $13 million in 1994 dollars, when production was at its peak; at the same time, the F-35 program, which hadn’t yet built a single jet, already cost between $28 and $38 million per jet.
What military has the most aircraft?
The largest Air Forces in the world by total available military aircraft:
- United States (13,264)
- Russia (4,163)
- China (3,210)
- India (2,123)
- South Korea (1,649)
- Japan (1,561)
- Pakistan (1,372)
- France (1,229)
Is the A-10 obsolete?
The A-10 is obsolete because it’s an air frame built around a cannon. The cannon is heavy, and the ammo is heavy. For all that weight the ammo runs out somewhere between 12 and 20 seconds. The most efficient way to destroy things on the ground is with guided missiles and bombs.
Why get rid of the A-10?
The problem is, part of the reason why the Air Force wants to cut A-10s is because the branch says they are no longer relevant to a war with China, which has high-end anti-aircraft weaponry that can shoot down the slow-moving Warthog. Whatever happens though, the A-10 still has many years of BRRRTing ahead of it.
