What if A10 Thunderbolts were exported?

[Hman]

Some thoughts...ok, why didn't they get exported? 

I don't understand why there were never, any export sales – any ideas why ?

So perhaps following the recent use in Iraq/Afghanistan, could it be in the twilight of its service life it may get some export sales? After all it is being upgraded and I am sure they must have some spare at Davis Monthan, that could be dusted off if someone wanted them. 

[tinlail]

Vision.

Namely it was thought that A-10 would be fly low to the ground, popping out from behinds the hills and forests of Germany to attack tanks. The counties that were in the plane buying market at the time, had mostly flat sandy land with no trees. So they didn't think it would work for them.

These days I would imagine that the Air force has no desire to sell off the plane, since they wouldn't get to keep the money. And they are using the spares as part lenders and such.

[Just call me Ray]

To answer your question "why didn't it happen?," the A-10 is a "Fulda Gap Fighter" very specialized for the anti-armor role (or at least that's what it was perceived as until OIF). The Israelis, who regularly engage in anti-armor exercises, were interested in the two-seat version but the deal fell through when it was though their OA-10B orders weren't economically justifiable.

As for the Luftwaffe or RAF, I guess they would figure they would rely on USAF in-theater assets at the time.

Though given the lifting of export restrictions I would expect Pakistan and India to be big users of them.

[GTX]

I think the two seat A-10B NAW would have encouraged further sales.  Mind you, it was offered to the RAAF.

As for whiffs, South Korean A-10s would be a distinct possibility.  Also, what about Egyptian ones?

Regards,

greg

[jcf]

Some thoughts...ok, why didn't they get exported? 

I don't understand why there were never, any export sales – any ideas why ?

Because it was the 'red-headed stepchild' of the USAF and was roundly hated by the Fighter Mafia and SAC.

Immediately prior to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait the aircraft had already been scheduled for deactivation,
the events of 1990-91 changed the equation and the aircraft's capabilities became obvious to everyone,
most importantly to people outside of the USAF. The Air Force on the other hand were still hankering to rid
themselves of the Hog and replace it with a go-fast anti-tank machine, an F-16 variant was the main contender.

Direct support of the infantry has not been a mission held in high regard in the USAF right from when it was
formed in 1947, the fact that the A-X project made it through to fielded hardware borders on miraculous.
Especially the choice of the Fairchild-Republic aircraft as they were not the USAF's favorite people at the time due
to some problems on other projects.

Thus, neither the aircraft nor the manufacturer had the internal USAF political support required to move it into the export arena.

Jon

[GTX]

Because it was the 'red-headed stepchild' of the USAF and was roundly hated by the Fighter Mafia and SAC.

Not the "Fighter Mafia" that formed around John Boyd - the A-10 was the embodiment of many of their principles.

Regards,

Greg

[Spey_Phantom]

i remember that 2 years ago, a rumor was circulating that the Philippene Air Force was intrested in buying a number of ex-USAF A-10A's to replace and/or supplement they're older OV-10.

woulb be nice to see some Phil. AF wharthogs 

[jcf]

Because it was the 'red-headed stepchild' of the USAF and was roundly hated by the Fighter Mafia and SAC.

Not the "Fighter Mafia" that formed around John Boyd - the A-10 was the embodiment of many of their principles.

Regards,

Greg

Well then, would you prefer 'Old School ADC Big-Heavy-Expensive Interceptor Cosa Nostra'?

Jon

[Jschmus]

I have a book from the 80s that mentions Fairchild tried to export the A-10 to various Third World nations, possibly mixed in with the F-5E as a fighter/strike package.  They pitched the single-seat A-10 as a maritime strike platform, with millimetric-band radar and Harpoon or Maverick ASMs.

[Zen]

Why would the RAF buy the A10, when it had the Harrier, and was musing about cheaper concepts like SABA?

Germany might have considered it, but their eyes seem elsewhere and on distinctly national and multinational projects, that gain workshare for themselves.

[Mossie]

SABA wouldn't really have fitted the A-10's role, it was a niche platform that would have complimented CAS types & capable of carrying much less ordanance.

I could see Harrier being replaced RAF service had the Americans not been interested in pursuing Harrier II.  Up until the Falklands War, there were many that thought the Harrier was only good for crowd pleasing at airshows.  The Harriers performance in that war made pretty certain that it's development was continued, otherwise it might have phased out much earlier.

[Matt Wiser]

Fairchild Republic and DOD were actively seeking sales of the A-10. The Warthog was evaled by a number of NATO air forces, namely West Germany, Italy, Turkey, and the RAF. It was also evaled by Imperial Iran, Israel, South Korea, Thailand, and Pakistan. Fairchild in 1978 was quoting $8 million per plane with a minimum buy of 42 aircraft (two 18-plane squadrons and six attrition reserves). What sank the sales? The plane wasn't sexy, no supersonic capability, flies low and slow, you get the idea.... Of all the potential customers, Imperial Iran was the most likely, but in '78 (before there was even talk of a Revolution) the IIAF was getting ready to introduce the F-16 and issue an order for 70 more F-14s. Any IIAF purchase was deferred "until 1980". Of course, things changed....

[Iranian F-14A]

One that,well,may not have been politically realistic,but would look good nontheless would be Poland.Say their Skorpion/Kobra program flopped(well,that parts true) so they bought some A-10s for the same role.European one camo,with high viz Polish roundels on the engines and maybe tailfins or a combination.

[Matt Wiser]

Nice to see you back. Coming back to the board more often? Anyway, if anyone wants A-10s (upgraded to C model standard), there's quite a few (at least 200+) in the boneyard and available for upgrade.

[Iranian F-14A]

Nice to see you back. Coming back to the board more often?

Yes,I'm back,its getting around Christmas time and for some reason I always equate that to profiles,don't ask me why.So,yea,expect some new ones going up sooner or later,been working on some new templets and trying to get back my Apache file i lost which,in addation to the Apache/Sea Apache/Longbow, also had my OH-58D,OH-1 and AH-2 Japanese choppers and Z-10,so a big set back there.But most of that has been restored and now i can move on.

Besides,I missed you guys and the insanity that abounds here.