Military AI Works

It is interesting that the A-10 has always operated in theaters without much fighter opposition. One recalls the Stuka doing that too. I wonder how it does at exercises like Red Flag where there is 'enemy' interceptors/fighters.

"Meant to be 30 Years Ago": That's the view of Air National Guard Lt. Col. Donald Henry of the "new" A-10C, which he helped bring to fruition as Air Combat Command's ANG A-10 program element monitor and which he flew in combat in Afghanistan. "The A-10C is the heaviest modernization program the A-10 has ever gone through," he said and added, "This is what the A-10 was meant to be 30 years ago." The new avionics, fully integrated targeting pods, and smart weapons, such as the Joint Direct Attack Munition, have produced an "effects-based upgrade" that enhances pilot situational awareness, said Henry. During one close air support mission, Henry said that the C model Hog enabled him to drop a JDAM "right in the middle of the target." He added: "I could see exactly where the friendlies were, where the enemies were. It would have taken much longer to verify their location, to roll in with dumb bombs. The JDAM made it extremely easy and precise." USAF has set 2011 as the date by which it will have all Hogs upgraded to C models and has issued a contract for new wing sets to prolong service life. Now, if USAF could just get new Hog engines. (Langley report by SSgt. Thomas Doscher)

From AF Daily Report Feb 26 08

Thanks for the information. I thought I read somewhere the A-10's will be retired soon So they will be up in the sky for at least some years?

Guess we'll need to have Rysiek update the AI version soon.

sprocky wrote:Thanks for the information. I thought I read somewhere the A-10's will be retired soon So they will be up in the sky for at least some years?

From the article it looks like it. The wing kits are probably the best indicator they plan to keep them around.

The F-35 Lightning II (dumbest name ever but, moving on) is supposed to replace the A-10, F-117 and F-16. F-117s went first, A-10s are next on the chopping block.

The next on the chopping block will be the F-16s. A-10s are expected to be around until 2028. The F-35 is supposed to be fielded beginning in 2013... from now until 2013 F-16s are going to be bled off. Most, if not all, Block 15 and Block 25 F-16s will be retired and then they'll begin replacing two F-16s with one F-35. It's expected the last F-16 will retire in 2025.

As for the name, it's not my favorite but there are far worse: Lancer comes to mind.

SMOC wrote:
As for the name, it's not my favorite but there are far worse: Lancer comes to mind.

i agree, i just call it the b-1b lawn dart.

Very nice, I hope the Reserves get "C"s.

djnocturnal wrote:

SMOC wrote:
As for the name, it's not my favorite but there are far worse: Lancer comes to mind.

i agree, i just call it the b-1b lawn dart.

F-16s are Lawn Darts, Electric Jets and Vipers (from Battlestar Galactica).
F-15s are Tennis Courts. B-1s are B-one "Bones". A-10s are Warthogs,
and Tornados are "Sharks" (From the big Tail Fin).

Don't forget, the official names of USAF fighters are named for birds of Prey in recent years...

F-16 Fighting FALCON
F-15 EAGLE
F-22 RAPTOR

As for the unofficial name...who knows what will pop up

Errm, I don't think that you can call the Raptor a bird of prey.

Firebird wrote:Errm, I don't think that you can call the Raptor a bird of prey.

Be definition, a raptor is a bird of prey.

The Colonel's observation, "It is interesting that the A-10 has always operated in theaters without much fighter opposition." leads to a good question.

How would the A10 stand up against an opponent in air to air combat?
If we put the Hog up against a fighter of the same age what would be the outcome.

While the Hog would be quite slower, wouldn't is ability to manuever give it a bit of an edge?
The Hog, not being outfitted for A/A as it's primary use, would definately have a disadvantage with it's lack of or lower technologically advanced electronics that are dedicated to A/A combat.
But then the fast movers would almost always tend to overshoot the Hog as it made it's sharp turns.

I would be interested in knowing how the Hog drivers are trained for an airborn hostile.

It probably goes one of two ways:

1. EJECT! EJECT! EJECT!

2. Popov: Magic, Popov 31
Magic: Go for Magic.
Popov: Popov flight is bingo, RTB. And please vector Eagle flight for incoming bandits.

I hope to be able to tell you in about a year or so when I drop my application for the USAF Reserves.

2 AIM-9's for self protection and don't forget the gun. I highly doubt that a CAP flight of F-22 would very away.

SMOC wrote:Be definition, a raptor is a bird of prey.

I thought it was one of those two legged fast scaly beasties that hunt in packs.

Firebird wrote:I thought it was one of those two legged fast scaly beasties that hunt in packs.

That would be a Velociraptor.

whats odd tho is that on our base paper they have a picture of a f-117 and in a shadow they have a picture of a velociraptor...i'll try to scan one I always thought they meant raptor as in the bird too, but who knows. all the media around the base always has the dino lol

Yeah, I thought that Raptor was the short name like the Toronto Raptors.

Firebird wrote:Yeah, I thought that Raptor was the short name like the Toronto Raptors.

Nope, a raptor is a bird of prey. So, an eagle, osprey, falcon, hawk, owl, etc... are all raptors.

However, if you were to get REALLY picky, a it's been suggest that velociraptors were flightless birds. So, a raptor would still be a bird.