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2022-03-29 Science & Technology
The A-10 Prepares For ‘Bomb Truck' Configuration Carrying 16 GBU-39 SDBs During Developmental Tests
[Aviantionist] The U.S. Air Force recently released, on March 25, the first photos of an A-10C Thunderbolt II loaded with GBU-39 Small-Diameter Bombs during a test near Eglin Air Force Base (Florida). The service did not disclose much info, except for mentioning that the test flight was performed by the 40th Flight Test Squadron on Feb. 9, 2022.

The integration of the GBU-39 on the "Warthog", as the A-10 is affectionately known by its pilot, is one of the major upgrades that were announced in 2019 as part of the A-10 Common Fleet Initiative. The program has the goal of keeping the aircraft in the U.S. Air Force inventory until late 2030s, while at the same time making sure that the A-10C will be a credible and lethal threat in that timeframe, should the need to deploy it during an eventual high-end conflict arise.

Until now the A-10 was limited to carry only a single weapon on each pylon; by using the BRU-61/A rack, the A-10 will be able to carry four SDBs on each weapon pylon, becoming a "bomb truck" that can release these stand-off weapons to neutralize threats as far as 50 miles in the target area before starting to provide Close Air Support (CAS) to ground troops. In the photos released on DVIDS we can see the aircraft carrying four BRU-61s, for a total of 16 SDBs.

The integration of the GBU-39 on the A-10 has been in the works at least since 2020, when The War Zone reported that SDB testing was in developmental testing with the 40th Flight Test Squadron, Detachment 1, based at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. The GBU-39, first deployed aboard the F-15E Strike Eagle in 2006, is currently integrated also on the F-16, F-22, AC-130, Gripen and Tornado and will be integrated on the F-35, B-1, B-2 and B-52.

As we already reported, the SDB is a small 250-lb multipurpose, insensitive, penetrating bomb with a blast-fragmentation warhead for stationary targets. It is equipped with deployable wings for extended standoff range that open upon release allowing the GPS-guided bomb to glide for several miles before hitting the target with accuracy: launched at high-speed from high altitude it can travel for as much as 50 miles, allowing the attack plane to remain outside the range of most SAM (Surface-to-Air Missile) batteries.
Posted by Besoeker 2022-03-29 00:00|| || Front Page|| [1 views ]  Top

#1 So this answers our question, B.
Where are the A-10s?
They're all in makeup.
Posted by Skidmark 2022-03-29 00:03||   2022-03-29 00:03|| Front Page Top

#2 ^Flying daily over the skies of Tucson.
Posted by borgboy 2022-03-29 01:57||   2022-03-29 01:57|| Front Page Top

#3 One of the most lovably dangerous machines made by man.
Posted by Dron66046 2022-03-29 02:20||   2022-03-29 02:20|| Front Page Top

#4 The military convoy that was stuck north of Kyiv for more than a week would have been a great target to test the new SBD bomb truck system on the A10.
Posted by boomerc 2022-03-29 05:20||   2022-03-29 05:20|| Front Page Top

#5 Doesn't replace the Brrrrrrrt, just precedes it
Posted by Frank G 2022-03-29 07:41||   2022-03-29 07:41|| Front Page Top

#6 ^Flying daily over the skies of Tucson.

Boise also

"May the Brrrrrrrt be with you"
Posted by Warthog 2022-03-29 09:56||   2022-03-29 09:56|| Front Page Top

#7 Always loved watching the A-10s do their live fires.
Posted by DarthVader 2022-03-29 10:05||   2022-03-29 10:05|| Front Page Top

#8 A-10: Doing things they are afraid to let an F-35 try to do
Posted by magpie 2022-03-29 11:01||   2022-03-29 11:01|| Front Page Top

#9 Not seeing them in the air as much as days past...
Posted by Slappy 2022-03-29 23:47||   2022-03-29 23:47|| Front Page Top










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