A-10 THUNDERBOLT: THE TANK BUSTER

The A-10 Thunderbolt, affectionately known as the Warthog because of its ugly appearance, is one of the Air Force’s prime weapons agaist the 1,000 Iraqi tanks arrayed in Kuwait.

CREW: One ARMAMENT: Maverick Missiles and a 20-foot-long cannon that is capable of spitting out 70 shellsa second. Each plane carries about 1,150 of the rounds, most of which are tipped with depleted uranium, a dense, heavy metal that will punch through virtually any armor or shatter a tanks treads. Upon penetration, the shells, the size of a slim milk bottle, instantly cause the air to ignite, invariably killing the tank’s occupants. MAXIMUM SPEED: 433 m.p.h. DEFENSIVE CAPABILITIES: It carries air-to-air Sidewinder missiles and a bevy of electronic countermeasures as well as heat chaff to thwart incoming missiles. Because it is slow and vulnurable to small-arms fire, the Thunderbolt’s pilot is shielded by titanium. It is designed to fly even with one of its two engines is blasted away.