Combat Proven
Mission
The primary mission of the A-10 is to provide day and night close air combat support for friendly land forces and to act as forward air controller (FAC) to co-ordinate and direct friendly air forces in support of land forces. The A-10 has a secondary mission of supporting search and rescue and Special Forces operations. It also possesses a limited capability to perform certain types of interdiction. All of these missions may take place in a high or low threat environment.
The A/OA-10 aircraft was specifically developed as a close air support aircraft with reliability and maintainability as major design considerations. The Air Force requirements documents emphasised payload, low altitude flying capability, range and loiter capability, low speed manoeuvrability and weapons delivery accuracy. The aircraft is capable of world-wide deployment and operation from austere bases with minimal support equipment.
Alternative mission loads
- Close air support anti-armour
- Battlefield interdiction
- Counter-insurgency
- Forward air control
- Preparatory attack
- Day armed reconnaissance
- Combat rescue escort
- Maritime strike