A-10C Capabilities Briefing

General Odierno (2013): The A-10

is the BEST Close Air Support
platform we have today

Desert Storm (1991): General

Horner I take back every bad
thing I ever said about the A-10,
they are saving our Asses!

This Briefing is:

UNCLASSIFIED
1
 Mission

Provide lethal firepower to coalition ground forces

ARMY // MARINES // Coalition Forces// ANYONE!
Close Air Support
FAC-A
Combat Search and Rescue
Special Operations Support
Air Interdiction
 A-10A vs. A-10C
LEGACY: A-10A
Intense workload causes heads-down time
Built on 1970 / 1980 technology
Limited integration with modern command
and control
Limited precision weapons capability
Combat proven lethality

CURRENT: A-10C
Central computer provides full sensor &
weapons system integration
Information displayed in glass cockpit
Datalink (SADL) with moving map
New precision weapons capabilities
Improved lethality and survivability
 A-10C Cockpit
5 x 5 Up Front
Multi-Function Controller
Color Display

Armament
HUD Control
Panel

F-16 Stick
Grip
F-15E Right
Throttle
 A-10C Communications Suite

ARC-210 (SATCOM, UHF, VHF, FM,

SINGARS, SECURE, HQ, VMF)
Simultaneous Use of 2nd ARC-210 (ARC Only)
(UHF, VHF, FM, SINGARS, SECURE, HQ)
ARC-164 (UHF, SECURE, HQ, VMF)
OFP Integration to Multiple Data Networks
SADL/LINK-16 DATALINK
VMF (DoD CAS Data Network Standard)
VDL (TGP VIDEO TO JTAC)
LARS (UHF, ENCRYPTED DATABURST,
DME INTERROGATIONS)
The only system integrated CSEL HHR
 A-10C Navigation Suite

Embedded Global Positioning System Inertial Navigation System

(EGI)
ILS
TACAN
Certified for Military GPS Approaches
Anti-GPS Jamming Capability (in Test)
Moving Map Displays
HMCS Map Displays
Heads Up Display (HUD)
 Counter Measures Suite

The ONLY Fully Integrated Common Missile Warning System in

USAF Legacy Fighter Fleet
Threshold Platform for the Integrated with Electronic Counter
Measure (ECM) Pod (ALQ-131A)
Most Advanced ECM Pod in CAF
Most Advanced IRCM Flare Program of all USAF Legacy Fighters
Carries More Chaff/Flare Countermeasures than ANY USAF
Legacy Fighter
 Survivability Characteristics

Twin Engine
Titanium Tub
Only Aircraft in the CAF
Triple Redundant Flight Controls
Only Aircraft in the CAF
Windscreen
Can sustain DIRECT HIT from
23mm AAA Round
Only Aircraft in the CAF

Note: Both of these jets continued combat operations

after this damage was field repaired
 Weapons Available

GAU-8/A Avenger 30MM

IAMs
GBU-38/31
CBU-103
LGBs
GBU-12/10
GP
MK82, MK84
MAV
EO/IR/LASER
Rockets (WP/HE/Illum)
Illumination (Overt/Covert)
 GAU-8 Avenger
All-purpose
Movers
1150RNDS
TP/HEI/CM
Rate of Fire
Dispersion
 Tactical Awareness Display
(TAD)
Integrated digital information
Plan-view representation of
current tactical situation

Situational Awareness Data Link

(SADL)
TAD displays target/threat/friendly
information via data link
Gateway allows comms with Link
16 and other data links
 Digital Stores Management
System (DSMS)
Pre-planned profiles
reduce heads down time >PROF >MSL
6 >SJET >INV

for switch changes GBU-31 1 1 GBU-31

5 ALN DEG
1
RDY 7
Helps eliminate switch
MK-82AIR 3 3 MK-82AIR
errors 4 FIXEDHI FIXEDHI 8
MK82A45L
AGM-65K RIP
3 117 RDY
1
N/T TER 9
QTY 3
80 FT
M-278 7 M-151
2 3 131
21 131 10
AIM-9
1 COOL
2 1150 TP 131 11

DSMS TGP TAD

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 Targeting Pods
A-10C Carries Most Advanced
Targeting Pods in CAF
High quality video provides
standoff beyond visual range
Coordinate Generation (TLE)
LSS/LST
LTIP
IR Marker
Rover (VDL)
Video in HMCS

SNIPER SE

LITENING SE

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 Inertially Aided Munitions
Provides all-weather capability
Current software permits GBU-38/31 and CBU-103/104
employment
Single release, side by side, tandem, or diamond patterns
Can carry up to 6 GBU-38s, 6 WCMDs or 4 GBU-31s
Coordinates can be:
Pre-planned
Input by hand
Self-generated from TGP, Datalink,
or other on-board sensors
A-10C Employment in GPS Jamming
Environment (In Test)
Can employ from 5K AGL and above
Prefer 15-20K AGL

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 Improvements

Breathing Threat Rings

Pre-planned or Datalink
RWR / Pilot input correlation 2

Transmitted
Datalink Markpoints J12.6 SID9 3

Multiple updates/fixes to 7

Up Front Controller
5
TGP Accuracy displays
VMF message types
Received

15
 Improvements (cont.)

Wingman SPI in HUD/TGP

TAD waypoint attributes

NAV (Default) 2

! NAI

TARGET

FRIENDLY
 Recent Upgrades

Suite 7B
HMCS
LARS (CSEL) (ARC ONLY)
 Future Upgrades

Suite 8 OFP (2015)

Mode 5
LARS Integration Improvement
Suite 9 OFP CANCELLED
USAF Budget Cuts
 Scorpion HMCS
Gentex Scorpion HMCS
Color, day/night
High accuracy (4-5 mrad)
Compatible with all current
NVGs
Ejection system qualified (sled)
Full compatibility with currently
issued helmet
No helmet modification
required
Uses existing NVG
mounting clips
Clear or dark visor
Magnetic tracker
Common aircraft map
ScorpionTM HMCS (Helmet Mounted Cueing System)

AFCENT Urgent Operational Need

Issued 28 Sep 2008 (Signed by General North)
Gentex Scorpion HMCS
Color, day/night
High accuracy (4-5 mrad)
Compatible with all current NVGs
Ejection system qualified (sled)
Full compatibility with currently issued helmet
No helmet modification required
Uses existing NVG mounting clips
Clear or dark visor
Magnetic tracker
Common aircraft map
Common system for A-10C, F-16B30, MC-130W
 CSAR Page
Preplanned
Datalink (J3.1)
LOC LOCK NEW
LARSV12
DET

LOC

SRV

interrogations CSAR SURVIVOR LIST

CS HHR PLS/TN FREQ
SRV
AJ03 H112 123456 257.000
AJ05 P112 654321 A 227.550
BC02 UHF 237.000
BR12 UNK 12345 237.000
SRV LK16 UNK 44444

DET AB01 E PT 33333

CNTR HOMING

TAD CUT

DELETE MARK
N23 45.6789 W123 45.6789
SRV TGP
EL 250 DL
TE HH:MMF RT HH:MMF

015 CSAR STAT TAD MSG

 Auto Homing Cuts (ADF)
Longitudinal lines on TAD
Can accept/reject as required
CICU will build an Area of BULL
250 /23
CNTL THR MA MAP 2 CSAR
20
NO MAP
Probability (AOP) when able 2
MAP
CUST
CNTR
2
OWN

ACCEPT REJECT
HOMING
HOMING

CSR SEND
2
HOOK MARK

17? L/L 2

RSND
NO SPI
MRKS

N23 45.6789 W123 45.6789

015 COMM STAT TAD MSG DCLT
 AOPs
AOPs
Build from any source
SRV symbol with BULL
250 /23
CNTL THR MA MAP 2 CSAR
20
NO MAP
ellipse estimating 2
MAP
CNTR
CUST 2
OWN
accuracy SRV
AJ03

Color coded

HOOK SEND
2
OWN MARK

17? L/L 2

RSND
SPI OFF 220/010 MRKS
TE HH:MMF 200
SURVIVOR PLS 123456
AJ03 HOOK112 LOCAL 225.000
N23 45.6789 W123 45.6789
015 COMM STAT TAD MSG DCLT
 AOP in TGP

B U L L CNTL THR MA MAP 2 CAS

105/018 ATTACK
20
1: 250K
MAP CNTR
2AUTO 6 OWN2
SRV
BDA AJ03 SEND
2UNK
BDA

HOOK SEND
2OWN
MARK

17? L/L2

SPI OFF RSND

220/020MRKS
AR12:34
12345
UNKNOWN
TN AB123
SA6 020G 1AGM65G
N42 06.137 W076 13.272
015 TAD TGP CDU MSG DCLT
 LARS V12 650
HHR interrogations
ONLY Aircraft in CAF that
Can interrogate CSEL HHR
SRV
LIST

SRV
DET
LOC
DET

DME interrogations AJ03 H112 123456 257.000

UNKNOWN LOCATION
SRC
Merge into AOP EL
TE
NONE
RT HOMING
SURVIVOR LOCATIONS CUT
MANUAL IGNORE
LOCAL IGNORE
MERGE DL TRACK IGNORE
AUTO
HOMING AUTO

ACCEPT
HOMING
SELECTED SOURCE
LOC
CLR EL REJECT
SRC LOC ACC HOMING
EL ACC
TIME

015 CSAR STAT TAD MSG

 APKWS (Laser Rockets)
A-10C USAF Threshold
Platform
Low CDE PGM
A-10C Can Carry 98 APKWS on
single mission
Testing = 100% Hit Rate on
Static and Moving Targets

LAU-131
Lanucher
Hydra-70
2.75
Rocket Motor

M151 Warhead
& Fuze
 Austere Field Capability

Covert/Overt Landing/Taxi Lights

Parking Brake
Combat Fuel Tank
APKWS Re-Arming
C-130 Over Wing Refueling
 Summary

A-10C Precision Engagement upgrade is an ongoing process

Increasing A-10C lethality in phases

A-10C kill chain extremely short getting shorter

Smartest aircraft in the inventory
Still maintain an A-model baseline skill set

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Questions?