single seat twin engine straight wing jet aircraft developed united_states_air_force commonly referred nicknames official comes fighter particularly effective close air support designed close support ground troops close air support providing quick action support troops helicopters vehicles ground troops entered service production built aircraft served designed solely secondary mission provide forward air controller airborne support directing aircraft attacks ground targets aircraft primarily role designated intended improve performance poor firepower designed cannon airframe designed measures pounds armor protect cockpit aircraft systems enabling absorb significant damage continue flying short takeoff landing capability permits operation close lines simple design enables maintenance minimal facilities served operation operation american intervention iraq invasion kuwait distinguished participated conflicts balkans afghanistan iraq middle_east single seat variant version produced pre production airframe modified twin seat prototype test weather night capable version program started upgrade remaining aircraft configuration modern use precision weaponry variety upgrades wing replacements service life extended development background air_force entered 1960s long period introducing faster attack aircraft intended primarily nuclear strike role led high speed designs like penetrating enemy high speeds deliver nuclear designs concentrating conventional weapons largely ignored leaving entry vietnam war led korean war era capable aircraft era relatively large long times propeller driven fairly slow vulnerable ground fire air_force marine_corps lost action vast majority small arms fire lack modern conventional attack capability led service members specialized attack aircraft june secretary defense ordered air force develop tactical aircraft long range strike role fighter bomber mission emerged second filled modified version navy phantom phantom successful fighter designs 1960s proved capable fighter bomber clearly lacking pure role lack time major problem lesser extent poor low speed performance expensive aircraft purchase operate cost million operational costs hour air_force undertook broad review tactical force structures concluded adopt cheap aircraft supplement air_force focused air air performance cost effectiveness study shifted focus new cheaper contract awarded platform soon subject gold plating exercise led demands upgraded engine new doubled cost helicopter competition period army introducing service intended role transport soon modified field carry machine guns known helicopter role proved effective lightly armed enemy new gun rocket pods quickly added arsenal improved cobra dedicated attack role armed long range tow missile able destroy tank outside range defensive fire platform effective led revolution military thought ways confront warsaw pact europe advance force anti tank helicopters instead large number tactical nuclear weapons basis nato battle plans 1950s helicopter improved air_force planners worried advanced designs like lockheed pose threat air_force funding air_force study existing capabilities revealed gaps escort fire suppression roles fill study concluded air_force acquire simple cheap dedicated aircraft capable develop doctrine tactics procedures aircraft accomplish missions armed helicopters provided program formed program office september general ordered specialized aircraft designed developed obtained december requirements action directive issued airplane march air_force released request information defense contractors objective create design study low cost attack aircraft secretary air_force asked write detailed specifications proposed project initial involvement kept secret earlier controversial involvement project discussions pilots operating vietnam analysis aircraft role indicated ideal aircraft long time low speed massive cannon firepower extreme possessing best elements specifications demanded aircraft cost million required biography world war luftwaffe attack pilot read people program issued modified detailed request proposals aircraft threat soviet armored forces weather attack operations requirements included aircraft designed specifically cannon specified maximum speed mph takeoff distance feet external load pounds mile mission radius unit cost million aircraft designed exclusively close air support time separate released cannon requirements high rate fire round minute high muzzle velocity companies submitted aircraft proposals selected build prototypes respectively general_electric selected build test cannon prototypes prototypes built republic factory new_york flew pilot production built maryland trials fly january announced selection production general_electric selected build cannon june additional fly principal attack aircraft time order prove need new attack aircraft production flew october deliveries commenced march total produced delivered experimental seat night adverse weather version built converting developed demonstration testing evaluation consideration included second seat weapons system officer responsible electronic navigation target acquisition version interest export customers seat trainer version ordered air_force funding canceled jet produced seat built resides edwards air force base production february deputy secretary authorized rate production accepted march production continued rate aircraft month believed best rate deliver total including prototypes delivered rate production authorized planned service life hours small reinforcement design quickly adopted failed initial fatigue testing testing fix passed fatigue tests flight hour service lives common time fatigue testing continued new flight hour target fatigue testing new target quickly discovered cracks portions wings joined fuselage production change add cold working address problem soon air_force determined real world fleet fatigue harsh estimated forcing change fatigue testing introducing spectrum equivalent flight hour testing spectrum fatigue testing started round testing quickly determined drastic reinforcement needed second change production starting aircraft increase thickness lower skin outer wing panels tech order issued thick skin fleet tech order rescinded roughly planes leaving roughly planes original thin skin starting aircraft cold working performed performed earlier aircraft fourth drastic change initiated aircraft address problems discovered spectrum testing change increased thickness lower skin center wing panel required modifications lower caps accommodate thicker skin air_force determined economically feasible earlier planes modification upgrades received upgrades years beginning laser receiver pod adopted receives reflected laser radiation laser faster accurate target identification began receiving navigation system upgrade provided weapon aiming equipment ground collision warning system compatible night vision low light operation aircraft began receiving global positioning system navigation systems multi function display system upgraded proposed upgrades included integrated combat search rescue systems improved early warning anti jam self protection systems air_force recognized engine power sub optimal planning replace powerful engines estimated cost billion wing replacement program took program following decision developed force structural maintenance plan damage threat assessment military incorporate updated procedures maintenance tech orders critically condition inspection implemented program office inspect plane specified instead employed statistical sampling fraction fleet maintenance suffered budget constraints performed field centralized programmed depot maintenance program large military corporate numerous changes contractor large military resulting changes brought base alignment closure commission sign trouble near critical sized cracks found initially classified minor reclassified critical tasked creating plan double service life fleet foundation attempted service life extension programs unfortunately plan based assumption implemented subsequent testing uneventful assumptions wrong began repair program implement planned wing replacement program program repair program bypassed acquisition process allowed use maintenance funding program bypassed strict evaluation proposed upgrade added center wing fuel replacement flight control system fitting areas request period near critical cracks previously uncovered received scrutiny cracks previously classified minor classified critical disrupted program greatly increasing scope cost independent review program point concluded data wing upgrade relied longer trusted independent review presented september shortly fatigue testing test wing failed mounting problems wings service failing increasing rate air_force estimated run wings plans explored replacing wings new ones costing million implement billion life program subject service life extension program boeing awarded contract build wing sets june november flew new wings fitted september awarded boeing million follow contract new wings increasing total ordered improves mission readiness decreases maintenance costs allows operated plans retire considered halting wing replacement program saving additional million total savings retiring fleet total billion program far contract financially efficient cancel fleet new wings fly past according contractor boeing entire fleet began receiving precision engagement upgrades include improved fire control system electronic smart bomb targeting aircraft received upgrade redesignated work completed estimated cost upgrading service life extension plans force total billion september reached initial operating capability utah completed work 100th precision engagement upgrade january upgrade add weather combat capability upgrade upgrade hand throttle stick configuration mixing flight stick throttle receive modern communications suite including radio upgrades backbone central interface control unit replaces old armament control system mission provide integrated solution pilot maintenance technician takes sources information aircraft targeting pods radios displays displays information manner meant reduce pilot workload low altitude safety targeting system replaced integrated flight fire control computer included upgrade central interface control unit provides digital stores management overall systems integration upgraded controller new instrument panel upgraded power systems necessary accommodate new gps guided smart weapons upgrade includes awareness data link provide air air ground air digital communications target data uses enhanced position location reporting system provide secure jam resistant data communications friendly force data army units near real time displays replace analog switching displays controls information data link sources automatically oriented scaled providing pilot accurate view forces sides ground pilots thumb displays surrounding keys hands throttle stick kit add controller positioned pilots eyes data keyboard typically input menu items navigational information weapons delivery data mission planning system mps allow pilot plan route weapons employed drop sequences target information ground uses cartridge load mission plan aircraft mps upgrade upgrade pilots able check status target weapons flight maintenance technician existing control display unit fitted upgraded software improve detection isolation failures system provided new operational test system included upgrade improve system availability july issued contract integrate system evaluated february secretary air_force ordered development suite software upgrade continue response congressional pressure software upgrades originally ceased plans retire suite software includes ability friendly units identify friendly aircraft requested testing external fuel tank extend time minutes flight testing tank conducted involve combat evaluation flight tests conducted 40th flight test squadron gather data aircraft handling characteristics performance different load configurations tank slightly reduced stability axis decrease aircraft tracking performance prior air_force began removing pods receive capability redundant installation targeting pods typically station sniper targeting pod typically station laser laser rangefinder sensors left place initially removed avoid possible repairs uses march conducted flight aircraft engines powered blend flight performed blend based fuel june aircraft fly new fuel blend derived alcohol known alcohol jet fuel based derived wood paper grass based material processed aviation fuel alternative fuel evaluated air_force replacement petroleum derived fuel previous types synthetic derived coal natural gas mass fuel derived plant animal known granted million modify weather research replacing retired armor expected allow survive extreme meteorological conditions mph found high altitude weather events boeing revealed holding initial discussions prospects selling retired stored near condition international customers air_force subsequently stated permit aircraft sold design overview low wing wide chord deep section piece constant chord center wing section tapered outer panels wing tips segment position trailing edge flaps right left wide span upper lower surfaces separate serve small leading edge redundant armor shielded flight control system semi aluminum fuselage main multiple frames lap skin aluminum structure twin fins mounted tips constant chord elevators electrically operated trim superior low speeds altitude large wing area high wing aspect ratio large wing allows short landings permitting operations primitive forward airfields near lines aircraft extended periods operate ceilings visibility typically flies relatively low speed knots mph makes better platform ground attack role fast fighter bombers difficulty targeting small slow moving targets leading edge wing structure panel construction providing strength minimal weight similar panels cover elevators sections fins skin panels integral fabricated computer controlled reducing production time cost combat experience shown type panel resistant damage skin load bearing damaged skin sections easily replaced field makeshift materials necessary far ends wings greater rolling moment distinguishing features larger typical percent wingspan providing improved control slow speeds split making designed rearmed serviced minimal equipment simple design enables maintenance forward bases limited facilities repairs field unusual feature aircraft parts left right sides including engines main landing gear vertical landing gear low pressure tires large straight wings allow operation short rough strips heavy aircraft ordnance load allowing aircraft operate damaged flying straight roadway sections landing gear offset aircraft right allow placement cannon firing barrel centerline aircraft ground taxi offset landing gear causes turning turning right ground takes distance turning left wheels main landing gear partially retracted making gear belly landings easier control damaging landing gears aircraft rear hydraulic power lost combination gravity wind resistance open lock gear place exceptionally tough able survive direct hits armor piercing high explosive projectiles double redundant hydraulic flight systems mechanical system lost flight hydraulic power uses manual control system pitch control engages automatically roll control pilot selected manual mode sufficiently favorable conditions return base control forces greater normal aircraft designed fly engine half tail elevator half wing missing cockpit parts flight control system protected aircraft armor referred armor tested withstand strikes cannon fire strikes rounds plates inches determined study likely angles armor makes percent aircraft weight interior surface directly exposed pilot covered multi layer shield protect shell canopy resistant small arms fire shown april captain flying baghdad invasion iraq suffered extensive damage iraqi fire damaged engine crippled hydraulic system requiring aircraft flight controls operated manual mode despite damage campbell flew aircraft nearly hour landed safely envisioned fly forward air bases semi prepared high risk foreign object damage engines unusual location general_electric engines decreases risk allows engines run aircraft serviced rearmed ground crews reducing turn time wings mounted closer ground operations heavy engines require strong supports bolts connect engine airframe engines high bypass ratio relatively small infrared signature position directs exhaust detection infrared surface air missiles engines angled upward degrees cancel nose pitching moment generate mounted aircraft center gravity avoiding need trim control surfaces force reduce likelihood damage fuel system fuel tanks located near aircraft center separated fuselage projectiles need penetrate aircraft skin reaching tank outer skin compromised fuel transfer lines self seal damage exceeds tank self sealing capabilities check prevent fuel flowing compromised tank fuel system components inside tanks fuel lost component failure system use foam lines inner outer sides fuel tanks retaining debris restricting fuel event damage engines shielded rest airframe fire equipment event main tanks lost self sealing tanks contain fuel miles flight weapons carry considerable stores primary built weapon type cannon powerful aircraft cannon flown fires large depleted armor piercing shells original design pilot switch rates fire rounds minute changed fixed rate rounds minute cannon takes half second come speed rounds fired second rounds second gun accurate place percent shots foot diameter circle feet flight slant range feet degree dive fuselage aircraft built cannon mounted slightly port barrel firing location starboard clock position aligned aircraft centerline gun foot inch ammunition drum hold rounds ammunition generally holds rounds prevent enemy fire causing rounds fire prematurely armor plates differing aircraft skin drum designed detonate incoming shells final armor layer drum protects damage gun loaded linked tube carrier ammunition loading assembly cart air surface missile commonly targeted electro optical guided infrared allows target engagement greater ranges cannon risk anti aircraft systems absence dedicated forward looking infrared cameras night vision infrared camera night missions poor man weapons include cluster bombs rocket pods equipped carry laser guided bombs usually fly pod wing air air missiles wing self defense modernization update variant new flight computer new glass cockpit displays controls new inch color displays moving map function integrated digital stores management system funded improvements fleet include new data link ability employ smart weapons wind corrected munitions ability carry integrated targeting pod lockheed martin sniper advanced targeting pod included remotely operated video enhanced receiver provide data personnel ground announced thick skin urgent wing assemblies program extend lifespan aircraft past colors markings flies low ground speed aircraft camouflage important aircraft difficult different types paint schemes tried included scheme sand yellow field black white colors winter operations tan green brown mixed pattern featured false canopy painted dark gray underside aircraft gun form attempt confuse enemy aircraft attitude maneuver direction feature nose art shark mouth head features common markings applied european woodland camouflage scheme tone gray scheme european woodland scheme designed minimize visibility threat hostile fighter aircraft felt ground fire uses dark green medium green dark gray order blend typical european forest terrain 1980s early 1990s following end cold war based experience gulf war air air threat longer seen important ground fire new color scheme known compass ghost chosen minimize visibility tone gray scheme darker gray color lighter gray underside aircraft started applied early 1990s operational history entering service unit receive tactical training wing based arizona march unit achieve combat readiness tactical fighter wing south_carolina deployments followed bases home abroad including england louisiana alaska air base south_korea england operated rotating detachments bases germany known forward operating locations initially addition air_force pilots switching want fighter pilots traditionally favored speed appearance shifted forward air control role redesignated role typically equipped pods inch rockets usually smoke white target marking physically unchanged remain fully combat capable despite 23rd deployed operation urgent fury provided air cover marine_corps landings island late october fire weapons marines met resistance gulf war balkans combat time gulf war destroying iraqi tanks military vehicles artillery pieces shot iraqi helicopters cannon shot captain kuwait february air air victory shot war surface air missiles battle damaged returned base written sustaining additional damage crash landings mission capable rate percent flew sorties launched percent missiles fired conflict shortly gulf war air_force abandoned idea replacing close air support version aircraft fired approximately rounds following seizure heavy weapons serbs warehouse series sorties launched locate destroy captured equipment august located anti tank vehicle afterward serbs agreed return remaining heavy weapons august nato launched offensive called operation deliberate force flew close air support missions attacking artillery positions late september began flying patrols returned balkan region beginning march march escorted supported search rescue helicopters finding downed pilot deployed support search rescue missions time began receive ground attack missions successful attack happened april remained action combat ended late june afghanistan iraq libya recent deployments invasion afghanistan initial stages campaign squadrons deployed pakistan air base afghanistan beginning march participated remained country fighting remnants operation iraqi freedom began march aircraft took early combat issued operation iraqi freedom numbers report aerial campaign conflict april initial invasion iraq mission capable rate percent war fired rounds ammunition single shot near baghdad international airport iraqi fire late campaign flew missions aircraft dropped propaganda iraq deployed iraq jets include precision engagement upgrade digital communications systems greatly reduced time acquire close air support target attack flew percent combat sorties operation iraqi freedom operation enduring freedom sorties ranged annually half flew sorties afghanistan beginning october flew percent operations iraq afghanistan strike eagle percent missions flown time period march deployed operation odyssey dawn coalition intervention libya participated attacks ground forces september fighter wing revealed deploying middle_east month includes unit aircraft deployment planned year advance support role timing coincided ongoing operation inherent resolve islamic state mid november commanders began sending hit targets central northwestern iraq daily basis months time flew percent sorties start operations august november days attacks paris destroyed convoy operated oil tanker trucks syria attacks intensification intervention called operation tidal wave named original operation tidal wave world war failed attempt raid german oil fields resulted heavy aircraft loss attempt cut oil smuggling source funding group future expected service possibly later replaced lockheed martin lightning critics said replacing giant leap backwards given performance rising costs air_force considered variant replacement aircraft concluded aircraft generate sufficient sorties august congress air_force examined proposals including aerial vehicle filling role proponents state armor cannon superior aircraft ground attack guided munitions planes rely jammed ground commanders frequently request support budget service considered retiring single mission aircraft multi mission aircraft cutting fleet infrastructure seen method major savings expressed interest obtaining air_force retire later stated chance happening stated retirement save billion guided munitions allow aircraft perform mission reducing requirement specialized aircraft aircraft bombers performed percent missions air_force stated vulnerable advanced anti aircraft defenses army stated versatile weapons loads psychological impact reduced logistics needs ground support systems january officials told years fully develop new attack aircraft replace year general head stated follow weapon system need developed planned initially sorties later sufficient numbers operationally available decade service considering purchasing relatively inexpensive replacement perform enemies lack sophisticated air defenses considering developing replacement aircraft january revealed indefinitely freezing plans retire years addition congressional opposition use anti operations deployments eastern_europe response russia military intervention ukraine numbers necessitated retention retirement deferred begin replacing squadron squadron basis march air_force revealed begun studying future aircraft succeed low intensity conflicts like regional stability operations admitting expensive operate day day roles low end basic shelf options sophisticated clean sheet attack aircraft derivatives generation trainer entirely new attack platforms considered variants variant built close air support ground attack version updated airborne forward air control updated seat experimental prototype work night bad weather prototype converted updated program proposed version developed persistent close air support program program eventually dropped idea manned civilian proposed replace thunderstorm penetration aircraft military engines oxygen system replaced civilian versions engines airframe receive protection hail replaced ballast scientific instruments operators flown exclusively united_states_air_force components operates aircraft united_states united_states_air_force 25th fighter squadron south_korea weapons squadron nevada georgia 75th fighter squadron georgia arizona arizona test evaluation squadron nevada maryland michigan fighter squadron fort wayne air national guard station indiana fighter squadron 45th fighter squadron arizona arizona fighter squadron georgia fighter squadron missouri operators united_states_air_force 18th tactical fighter squadron 55th tactical fighter squadron fighter squadron tactical fighter squadron tactical fighter squadron tactical fighter squadron tactical fighter squadron tactical fighter squadron tactical fighter squadron fighter squadron tactical fighter squadron tactical fighter squadron tactical fighter squadron air force reserve command fighter squadron air national guard fighter squadron fighter squadron fighter squadron tactical fighter squadron fighter squadron aircraft display germany south_korea united_kingdom cold war museum united_states joint base virginia air force flight test center museum edwards california utah flying tiger heritage park england louisiana empire state museum new_york washington new_york air force armament museum florida heritage park alaska adjacent arizona museum aviation georgia georgia south_carolina marked assigned represented aircraft credited downing iraqi hip helicopter assigned pennsylvania missouri cradle aviation new_york museum california airport sacramento california collection colorado peru indiana field wisconsin nose section cradle aviation new_york ohio don memorial museum kentucky park south_carolina barnes air national guard base massachusetts windsor locks connecticut warrior park arizona new england air museum windsor locks connecticut american museum republic airport new_york michigan specifications data great book modern general characteristics crew length wingspan height wing area root tip weight loaded weight mission anti armor mission max takeoff weight powerplant lbf internal fuel capacity performance exceed speed knots mph bombs maximum speed knots mph sea level clean cruise speed knots mph stall speed knots mph combat radius mission nmi hour min combat anti armor mission nmi nmi sea level penetration exit min combat ferry range nmi knot mph minutes reserve service ceiling rate climb min wing loading thrust weight armament guns cannon rounds capacity wing fuselage stations capacity provisions carry combinations rockets rocket pods rockets respectively rocket pods rockets rocket pods rockets missiles air air missiles self defense air surface missiles bombs mark series iron bombs bombs cluster bombs series laser guided bombs pod pods lockheed martin sniper targeting pods drop tanks increased range time laser pod mounted beneath right cockpit use currently longer use head display improved technical flying air ground support notable appearances media nicknames received popular nickname pilots crews attack squadrons flew maintained republic jet attack aircraft serve nicknamed nicknamed tagged ultra saying ugly early associated aircraft reference calling early support troops ground combat
Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II