In a typical strafing attack, the A-10 approaches the target obliquely at about 30 meters (100 feet) and 300 kts. At that height, the Warthog pilot cannot see the target, so its location must be provided by a FAC using smoke marker rockets, smoke rounds from artillery or mortars, or a laser designator keyed to the A-10’s Pave Penny laser spot tracker. In reality, a "mark" is a real luxury, not often provided to A-10 operators. More commonly, a set of briefing coordinates and a lot of in-cockpit map reading determines the success of hitting the attack objective. Warthog pilots will fly to an identifiable point (a river bend or town) and then pop up (hopefully) to where the target was said to be. At roughly 4-6 km (2-3 n.mi) from the target, the pilot pops up briefly to a height of 150 meters (500 feet), acquires the target either visually (or by a target mark), rolls into a shallow dive, lines up, fires a 1-2 sec. burst, then rolls away from the target, diving back to 30 meters. He may then use terrain masking to approach the target from a different angle before repeating the pop-up attack. Because of the high threat environment of the FEBA, target designation—by a FAC aircraft, or by other assets such as an Army Fire Support Team Vehicle (FISTV), or helos such as the AH-64 Apache or OH-58D Kiowa Warrior—is often just a practice exercise. In most combat situations, target coordinates would be provided by artillery or tank fire, or from the initial mission briefing.
IIR Maverick Attack
The AGM-65D and -G use imaging infrared guidance. That is, the seeker in the nose of the missile provides a TV-like picture of the target, but based on the infrared (thermal) emissions from the target itself. The image is projected on the A-10’s multi-functional display (MFD), allowing the pilot to select the target by placing the cursor over it. The missile seeker then locks onto the thermal signature of the target, and, when fired, homes autonomously to the kill. When using the IIR Maverick, the pilot flies an attack profile broadly similar to that used with the GAU-8, except at much greater standoff range, perhaps 8-10 km (4-5 n.mi.). As soon as the missile is launched, the pilot dives back to 30 meters, ducking behind whatever cover is available, then proceeding to the next target waypoint.
Laser-Guided Attacks
Because the USAF never provided the A-10A with its own laser designation capabilities, and it lacks the necessary speed for correct release, use of laser-guided weapons like the USN/USMC AGM-65E Maverick missile and Paveway-class bombs is not known to be a common payload. The AGM-65E Maverick would be a relatively expensive weapon to use against the primary target class (tanks) of the A-10A. The A-10 is capable of tracking laser energy from a variety of designators (land-based or otherwise) with its AAS-38 Pave Penny laser spot tracker, a sensor similar to the seeker on the AGM-65E and laser guided bombs. It detects coded laser emissions from a designator, and projects a target indicator symbol in the HUD to provide the pilot with the target location. Tactics are therefore sketchy, but delivery of LGBs is certainly within the mission capacity of the A-10A. Theoretically, A-10s flying at medium altitudes could loiter near a battle, and deliver LGBs on demand from a designating party. But due to the A-10's basic mission design and the low-level high-threat battlefield environment, other allied assets are much better suited to deliver laser-guided munitions.
Unguided Rocket Attack
Unguided 2.75” (70mm) FFAR rockets, carried in 7-and 19-round pods, are useful against soft vehicles, artillery positions, and exposed troops. The attack profile for rockets is similar to that for the GAU-8, with different ballistic characteristics fed into the attack system.
Free-Fall Weapons
In the high threat environment, use of free-fall bombs such as the Mk.82 LDGP bomb or Mk.20 Rockeye is fraught with extreme peril, because they require the aircraft to directly overfly the target, thus passing through the heart of the air defense envelope. If they are employed, either a low-level (laydown) or shallow dive attack profile is used. In the laydown, the aircraft approaches at 30 meters, pops up to perhaps 100 meters, acquires the target, and flies level right over it. In the shallow dive, the aircraft pops up, and then rolls in on the target in a 15-20 degree dive, releasing somewhat short of the target and breaking away. To ensure that the weapons are released at the proper moment, the A-10 attack system provides the pilot with a Continuously Computed Impact Point (CCIP) in the HUD. With LASTE, a Bomb Fall Line with its "death dot" at the bottom end of the line is displayed in the Bomb mode. The pilot then puts any part of that line on the target and flies the "death dot" to the Bomb Release Point. Once the dot is over the target, the pilot "pickles" the bomb release, and gravity takes over…
Attack Strategy Profiles
Cannon Attack Profile
In a typical strafing attack, the A-10 approaches the target obliquely at about 30 meters (100 feet) and 300 kts. At that height, the Warthog pilot cannot see the target, so its location must be provided by a FAC using smoke marker rockets, smoke rounds from artillery or mortars, or a laser designator keyed to the A-10’s Pave Penny laser spot tracker. In reality, a "mark" is a real luxury, not often provided to A-10 operators. More commonly, a set of coordinates and a lot of map reading determines the success of hitting the attack objective. Warthog pilots will fly to an identifiable point ( a river bend or town) and then pop up to where the target was said to be… At roughly 4-6 km (2-3 n.mi) from the target, the pilot pops up briefly to a height of 150 meters (500 feet), acquires the target either visually (or by a target mark), rolls into a shallow dive, lines up, fires a 1-2 sec. burst, then rolls away from the target, diving back to 30 meters. He may then use terrain masking to approach the target from a different angle before repeating the pop-up attack. Because of the high threat environment of the FEBA, target designation—by a FAC aircraft or by other assets such as a Army Fire Support Team Vehicle (FISTV), or helos such as the AH-64 Apache or OH-58D Kiowa Warrior—is often just a practice exercise. In most combat situations, target coordinates would be provided by artillery or tank fire, or from the initial mission briefing.
IIR Maverick Attack
The AGM-65D and -G use imaging infrared guidance. That is, the seeker in the nose of the missile provides a TV-like picture of the target, but based on the infrared (thermal) emissions from the target itself. The image is projected on the A-10’s multi-functional display (MFD), allowing the pilot to select the target by placing the cursor over it. The missile seeker then locks onto the thermal signature of the target, and, when fired, homes autonomously to the kill. When using the IIR Maverick, the pilot flies an attack profile broadly similar to that used with the GAU-8, except at much greater standoff range, perhaps 8-10 km (4-5 n.mi.). As soon as the missile is launched, the pilot dives back to 30 meters, ducking behind whatever cover is available, then proceeding to the next target waypoint.
Laser-Guided Attacks
Because the USAF never provided the A-10A with its own laser designation capabilities, and it lacks the necessary speed for correct release, use of laser-guided weapons like the USN/USMC AGM-65E Maverick missile and Paveway-class bombs is not known to be a common payload. The AGM-65E Maverick would be a relatively expensive weapon to expend against the primary target class (armor/tanks) of the A-10A. The A-10 is capable of tracking laser energy from a variety of designators (land-based or otherwise) with its AAS-38 Pave Penny laser spot tracker, a sensor similar to the seeker on the AGM-65E and laser guided bombs. It detects coded laser emissions from a designator, and projects a target indicator symbol in the HUD to provide the pilot with the target location. Tactics are deliberately sketchy, but delivery of LGBs is certainly within the mission capacity of the A-10A. Theoretically, A-10s flying at medium altitudes could loiter near a battle, and deliver LGBs on demand from a designating party. But because of the A-10's original mission design and the low-level high-threat battlefield environment, other allied assets are better suited to deliver laser-guided munitions during combat.
Unguided Rocket Attack
Unguided 2.75” (70mm) FFAR rockets, carried in 7-and 19-round pods, are useful against soft vehicles, artillery positions, and exposed troops. The attack profile for rockets is similar to that for the GAU-8, with different ballistic characteristics fed into the attack system.
Free-Fall Weapons
In the high threat environment, use of free-fall bombs such as the Mk.82 LDGP bomb or Mk.20 Rockeye is fraught with extreme peril, because they require the aircraft to directly overfly the target, thus passing through the heart of the air defense envelope. If they are employed, either a low-level (laydown) or shallow dive attack profile is used. In the laydown, the aircraft approaches at 30 meters, pops up to perhaps 100 meters, acquires the target, and flies level right over it. In the shallow dive, the aircraft pops up, and then rolls in on the target in a 15-20 degree dive, releasing somewhat short of the target and breaking away. To ensure that the weapons are released at the proper moment, the A-10 attack system provides the pilot with a Continuously Computed Impact Point (CCIP) in the HUD. With LASTE, a Bomb Fall Line with its "death dot" at the bottom end of the line is displayed in the Bomb mode. The pilot then puts any part of that line on the target and flies the "death dot" to the Bomb Release Point. Once the dot is over the target, the pilot "pickles" the bomb release, and gravity takes over…
