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”
Multi-Function
Color Display
Up Front
Controller
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



LGBs



MK82, MK84
MAV


GBU-12/10
GP


GBU-38/31
CBU-103
EO/IR/LASER
Rockets (WP/HE/Illum)
Illumination (Overt/Covert)
GAU-8 Avenger
 All-purpose

Movers
 1150
RNDS
 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
for switch changes
Helps eliminate switch
errors
>PROF
5
>MSL
GBU-31 1
ALN DEG
6
>SJET
1
1
MK-82AIR 3
4 FIXEDHI
3
AGM-65K
1
117 RDY
2
M-278
3 131
1
AIM-9
2
COOL
MK82A45L
RIP
N/T
QTY 3
80 FT
21
DSMS
1150 TP
TGP
>INV
GBU-31
RDY
3 MK-82AIR
FIXEDHI
7
8
TER
9
7 M-151
131
10
131
11
TAD
12
Targeting Pods




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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
13
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
14
Improvements

Breathing Threat Rings
 Pre-planned or Datalink
 RWR / Pilot input correlation

Datalink Markpoints J12.6 SID9

Multiple updates/fixes to
 Up Front Controller
 TGP Accuracy displays
 VMF message types
2
Transmitted
3
7
5
Received
15
Improvements (cont.)

Wingman SPI in HUD/TGP

TAD waypoint attributes
NAV (Default)
!
NAI
TARGET
FRIENDLY
2
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)
LARSV12
interrogations

LOC
DET

LOCK
LOC

NEW
SRV
CSAR SURVIVOR LIST
SRV
SRV

DET

CNTR
TAD

DELETE
SRV
015
CS
AJ03
AJ05
BC02
BR12
 LK16
AB01
HHR
H112
P112
UHF
UNK
UNK
E PT
PLS/TN
123456
654321
12345
44444
33333
FREQ
257.000
A 227.550
237.000
237.000
HOMING 
CUT
N23 45.6789 W123 45.6789
EL 250
DL
TE HH:MMF
RT HH:MMF
CSAR
STAT
TAD
MSG
MARK 
TGP
Auto Homing Cuts (ADF)



Longitudinal lines on TAD
Can accept/reject as required
CICU will build an Area of
Probability (AOP) when able
BULL
 CNTL
250 /23
 THR
 MA
 MAP
2 CSAR
MAP
2
CUST
MAP
CNTR
2
OWN
ACCEPT
 HOMING
2
20
NO
REJECT

HOMING
CSR
HOOK
SEND

MARK
 17?
L/L 2
RSND

MRKS
NO SPI
N23 45.6789 W123 45.6789
015
COMM
STAT
TAD
MSG
DCLT
AOPs

AOPs
 Build from any source
 SRV symbol with
ellipse estimating
accuracy
 Color coded
BULL
 CNTL
250 /23
 THR
 MA
 MAP
2 CSAR
20
NO
MAP
2
CUST
MAP
CNTR
2
OWN
SRV
AJ03
2
HOOK
OWN
SEND

MARK
 17?
L/L 2
SPI OFF
TE HH:MMF
SURVIVOR
AJ03
015
COMM
RSND
220/010 MRKS 
200
PLS 123456
225.000
HOOK112
LOCAL
N23 45.6789 W123 45.6789
STAT
TAD
MSG
DCLT
AOP in TGP
B U L L CNTL THR MA MAP
105/018
ATTACK
MAP
2AUTO
2 CAS
6
20
1: 250K
CNTR
OWN2
SRV
AJ03
BDA
2UNK
HOOK
SEND

MARK
2OWN
17?
L/L2
SPI OFF
AR12:34
UNKNOWN
015
SEND

BDA
TAD
RSND
220/020MRKS 
12345
TN AB123
SA6
020G 1AGM65G
N42 06.137 W076 13.272
TGP
CDU
MSG
DCLT
LARS V12 650



HHR interrogations
 ONLY Aircraft in CAF that
Can interrogate CSEL HHR
DME interrogations
Merge into AOP

LOC
DET
SRV
SRV

LIST
DET
AJ03
SRC
H112
EL
TE
123456
257.000
UNKNOWN LOCATION
NONE
RT
SURVIVOR LOCATIONS
MANUAL
LOCAL
DL TRACK
 HOMING
MERGE
AUTO
IGNORE
IGNORE
IGNORE
AUTO
SELECTED SOURCE
LOC
EL
LOC ACC
EL ACC
TIME
CLR
SRC
015
CSAR
STAT
HOMING 
CUT
ACCEPT 
HOMING
REJECT 
HOMING
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
Hydra-70
2.75”
Rocket Motor
M151 Warhead
& Fuze
LAU-131
Lanucher
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
28
Questions?