The Fairchild A-10 Thunderbolt II (aka Warthog and Titanium Bathtub) is one of the oldest and most recognized US strike aircraft in the world. It is a CAS (Close Air Support) tank-buster supreme noted for its huge 30mm GAU-8A Avenger gun and AGM-65 Maverick missiles carried. In ODS it had its shining moment. Three fighter units were equipped with it, they made 8,500 sorties, and killed 1000 Iraqi tanks, 1200 artillery pieces, and 2000 AFVs!!! During ODS they fired depleted uranium rounds at 4200 rpm!!! However, it was later discovered that the DU rounds that burned were toxic and have been discontinued in favor of more conventional projectiles for both the aircraft and MBTs. The A-10 has a slow sub-sonic speed of 422 mph loaded, a ceiling of 34,686 ft, range of 2480 miles, and can carry 8 tons of ordnance on 11 stations. The weapons include combos of Mavericks, ATG LAU-68 seven-shot 70mm rockets, and four AIM-9L/M Sidewinders for self-defense. The AGM-65B/C Mavericks can be IR or TV guided. Engines are 2x GE TF34-GE-100s each rated at 9065 lbs st. They are spaced to avoid losing both engines if hit by a SAM or MANPADS system. It's Russian equivalent is the Su-25 Frogfoot that has more powerful engines, faster speed, a 30mm gun with lower amount of rounds, lower ordanance carried (6 tons) but more types, and lower range. It is however very rugged: able to land in dirt/mud/snow and took Stinger hits in Afghanistan and survived due to an armored bulkwall between engines. Comparisons to the losing Northrop A-9 are unfounded...

A-10: http://www.fas.org/man//dod-101/sys/ac/a-10-19990422-f-7910d-518.jpg Losing rival Northrop A-9: http://www.marchfield.org/a9zz.jpg