A-10A Late

This page is about the American strike aircraft A-10A Late. For the premium version, see A-10A.

A-10A Late

A-10A Late

Description

The A-10A Thunderbolt II (Late) is a rank American strike aircraft with a battle rating of (AB), (RB), and (SB). It was introduced in Update "Wind of Change".

General info

Flight performance

The A-10A Late has a low top speed but retains its manoeuvrability, even with a heavy weapon loadout. The A-10A's low speed means that it will be difficult to reach enemy ground units and bases without being intercepted. It also makes the A-10 vulnerable to any attacking aircraft that flies much faster and SAMs. If engaged in a dogfight, it is very easy to end up energy trapped by the opponent.

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		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
_	_	_	_	_	_

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
		___	___	___	~__	~__

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< ___	< ___	< ___	N/A

Engine performance

Engine			Aircraft mass
Engine name		Number	Basic mass		Wing loading (full fuel)
_____		_	_,___ kg		___ kg/m2
Engine characteristics			Mass with fuel (no weapons load)			Max Takeoff Weight
Weight (each)	Type		_m fuel	__m fuel	__m fuel
___ kg	___		_,___ kg	_,___ kg	_,___ kg	_,___ kg
Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB/SB)			Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (___%/WEP)
Condition	100%	___%/WEP	_m fuel	__m fuel	__m fuel	MTOW
Stationary	___ kgf	___ kgf	_.__	_.__	_.__	_.__
Optimal	___ kgf (_ km/h)	___ kgf (_ km/h)	_.__	_.__	_.__	_.__

Survivability and armour

The A-10A has substantial armour around the cockpit, fuel tanks, and transmission. This armour is mostly effective toward autocannons up to 25 mm calibre.

• 38 mm titanium alloy - "bathtub" around the bottom of the cockpit
• 44 mm bulletproof glass (54°) - windshield in front of the pilot

The A-10A is equipped with a whooping 480 countermeasures. This gives an extended and effective protection against even the most potent heat-seeking missiles it will face. However, it is very easy to get energy trapped as any common enemy aircraft can simply fly above the A-10, and with it’s slow speed, it simply has no chance to follow and get in range to use it’s gun. After the A-10 inevitably pitches back down (or stalls), the enemy aircraft will dive down on the slow and vulnerable A-10. While the pilot has ample armor protection, the other parts of the plane, such as the wing, tail and especially the unarmored and exposed engines, will easily be destroyed by any short cannon burst. Therefore, while the A-10 can utilize it’s all aspect AIM-9Ls to dispatch aircraft lacking flares before they can initiate an energy trap, flare equipped aircraft should never be engaged unless absolutely necessary as the end result will likely result in the A-10’s destruction.

Armaments

Ballistic Computer
CCIP (Guns)	CCIP (Rockets)	CCIP (Bombs)	CCRP (Bombs)

Offensive armament

The A-10A Late 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 Late can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• Without load
• 2 x AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles
• 42 x Hydra-70 M247 rockets
• 84 x Hydra-70 M247 rockets
• 84 x Hydra-70 M247 rockets + 4 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 + 4 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 + 4 x AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles (12,000 lb total)
• 6 x AGM-65D missiles
• 6 x AGM-65D missiles + 4 x AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles
• 4 x AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles

Usage in battles

The A-10A Late is specifically designed to attack ground targets. The AGM-65Ds and Mk 84s provide substantial firepower against armoured ground units. When within range, the 30 mm GAU-8 cannon can be used: the gun may lack penetration power against armour, but is excellent at destroying exterior modules and inflicting damage by overpressure.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Good manoeuvrability
• Good armor protection around the cockpit area that will protect the pilot
• 480 countermeasures are extremely effective against common heat-seeking missiles
• Devastating cannon with a large ammo pool
• Great payload options for ground attack
• Access to four all-aspect AIM-9L Sidewinder air-to-air missiles

Cons:

• Extremely poor top speed makes it an easy prey

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

Videos

The Shooting Range #295 - Metal Beasts section at 00:28 discusses the A-10A Late.

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

• [Devblog] A-10A Thunderbolt II: The ‘Warthog’ Arrives in War Thunder!

Fairchild Aircraft
Jet aircraft	A-10A · A-10A Late · A-10C