New wings for the A-10

[Nypsy]

I get Boeing's news releases, I just got this one about the A-10...

Boeing to Build 56 Additional A-10 Wings for US Air Force
Will keep aircraft operating through 2035

ST. LOUIS, Sept. 4, 2013 – Boeing [NYSE: BA] will continue improving U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II mission readiness, and decreasing maintenance costs, through a follow-on order for 56 replacement wings for that aircraft.   
Boeing is on contract to build up to 242 wings, including these, at its plant in Macon, Ga. Refitting the fleet with new wings will improve the mission availability of A-10s by an estimated 4 percent and will help save the Air Force an estimated $1.3 billion in maintenance costs during the next 30 years.   
This latest order is valued at $212 million. Including this agreement, the Air Force has ordered 173 wings. The efforts of Boeing, its suppliers, and the Air Force will allow the A-10 fleet to operate into 2035.
The A-10 is a twin-engine jet designed for close air support of ground forces. It can be used against all ground targets, including tanks and other armored vehicles.
A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is one of the world's largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world’s largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is a $33 billion business with 59,000 employees worldwide. Follow us on Twitter: @BoeingDefense.
# # #
Contact:
Michelle Shelhamer
Global Services & Support
Office: +1 314-232-3329
Mobile: +1 316-259-2649
michelle.m.shelhamer@boeing.com

[Wildcat1]

Is it a new design for the wing or just a newly manufactured wing?

[GScholz]

It says "replacement wings" so I guess it's just a new production run of wings to swap out the old fatigued ones on the aircraft. We did the same with our F-16 fleet a couple of years ago; gave them 4,000 more hours.

[doright]

Now if they could only ditch the 1960s engines. Updated and up rated engines would greatly increase their mission endurance, TO performance, and sustained maneuverability.

[Nath[BDP]]

retire them

[Zacherof]

retire them

No
Such a sexy. Ird

[GScholz]

It's a beautiful thing... in the dark

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0tUAbpMFcE

[Skuzzy]

Now if they could only ditch the 1960s engines. Updated and up rated engines would greatly increase their mission endurance, TO performance, and sustained maneuverability.

The first engine shipped in 1971.
They are rated for 2,000 hours "on wing" time and have been updated several times during their history to improve durability and longevity.

With over 13 million flight hours, these engines are some of the most reliable and durable engines, currently, in the air.

This is speculation, on my part, but they still seem to have a really good power to weight ratio as well.

What engine would you replace them with?

[Nath[BDP]]

It's a beautiful thing... in the dark

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0tUAbpMFcE

study sim, zzzzz

[Karnak]

retire them

Why?

Is there another aircraft that we have in inventory that can do they job they do?

[jeep00]

Not an aircraft to my knowledge that is more appropriate for today. No one is going to go at it against us in the sky ground pounders are always needed. So the a10 will always be too. And I only like a few jets-sr 71 f18and a10. All for their beauty and grace in flight.

[jeep00]

It's a beautiful thing... in the dark

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0tUAbpMFcE

We make the green formation lights for them.

[Fish42]

Why?

Is there another aircraft that we have in inventory that can do they job they do?

Sure there are. all those F-35s are going to replace them...

[doright]

The first engine shipped in 1971.
...
What engine would you replace them with?

I should have 1960s technology.

The civilian variant CF34 is still in production and has a large range of variants. AF has proposed re-engine programs several times.

[DaveBB]

A-10s have had a bad track record for friendly fire.  Even though an Apache blew up a Bradley in the first Gulf War, being able to get in close with a powerful camera (not to mention a 30mm cannon, albeit nowhere near the lethality of the A-10s) drastically reduces the friendly fire incidents.

The Battle of Nasiriyah shows what can happen when A-10s and friendly vehicles end up in the same target box.  The A-10s just don't have the optics to identify a friendly vehicle quickly and efficiently in the fog of war.  The book "Ambush Alley", with first person narratives of the Marines in the battle claims that 20 Marines and at least 3 AAVs were destroyed by A-10s.  An official investigation after the battle showed a lower number of Marines and AAVs destroyed, though it was hard to determine since both flight data tapes from the two A-10s involved were accidentally lost or taped over.

Anyhow, the Longbow Apache has excellent cameras/flir and a very cool fire control radar that can even positively ID a camel (not to mention tell the difference between a BMP and an AAV).