A-10 Thunderbolt II

<p>The <strong>Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II</strong> is a single-seat, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twinjet">twin</a>-<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbofan">turbofan</a>, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straight_wing">straight-wing</a>, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subsonic_aircraft">subsonic</a> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_aircraft">attack aircraft</a> developed by <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairchild_Aircraft">Fairchild Republic</a> for the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Air_Force">United States Air Force</a> (USAF). In service since 1977, it is named after the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_P-47_Thunderbolt">Republic P-47 Thunderbolt</a>, but is commonly referred to as the "<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warthog">Warthog</a>" or simply "<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pig">Hog</a>".<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairchild_Republic_A-10_Thunderbolt_II#cite_note-3">[3]</a> The A-10 was designed to provide <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Close_air_support">close air support</a> (CAS) to ground troops by attacking enemy armored vehicles, tanks, and other ground forces; it is the only production-built aircraft designed solely for CAS to have served with the U.S. Air Force.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairchild_Republic_A-10_Thunderbolt_II#cite_note-Nijboer-4">[4]</a> Its secondary mission is to direct other aircraft in attacks on ground targets, a role called <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forward_air_control">forward air controller</a>-airborne; aircraft used primarily in this role are designated OA-10.</p><p style="text-align: start">The A-10 was intended to improve on the performance and firepower of the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_A-1_Skyraider">Douglas A-1 Skyraider</a>. The Thunderbolt II's <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airframe">airframe</a> was designed around the high-power <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/30_mm_caliber">30&nbsp;mm</a> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GAU-8_Avenger">GAU-8 Avenger</a> rotary <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autocannon">autocannon</a>. The airframe was designed for durability, with measures such as 1,200 pounds (540&nbsp;kg) of titanium <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_armor">armor</a> to protect the cockpit and aircraft systems, enabling it to absorb damage and continue flying. Its ability to take off and land from relatively short and/or unpaved runways permits operation from airstrips close to the front lines, and its simple design enables maintenance with minimal facilities.</p><p style="text-align: start">It served in the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_War">Gulf War</a> (Operation Desert Storm), the American-led intervention against <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq">Iraq</a>'s invasion of <a ta