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The A-10 was designed around the hydraulically driven seven-barrel
30 mm GAU-8 Avenger Gatling-style rotary cannon that is its prima-
ry armament with PGU-14/B Armor Piercing Incendiary round with
depleted uranium core designed to destroy tanks.
The A-10's airframe was designed for durability, with measures such
as 1,200 pounds (540 kg) of titanium armor to protect the cockpit
and aircraft systems, enabling it to absorb a significant amount
of damage and continue flying. The A-10A single-seat variant was
the only version built, though one A-10A was converted to an
A-10B twin-seat version. In 2005, a program was begun to upgrade
remaining A-10A aircraft to the A-10C configuration.
The A-10's official name comes from the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt
of World War II, a fighter that was particularly effective at close
air support. The A-10 is more commonly known by its nicknames
"Warthog" or "Hog". With a variety of upgrades and wing replace-
ments, the A-10's service life may be extended to 2028, though
there are proposals to retire it sooner.
