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Description
This is a "future A-10" model I proposed about a year back. It takes what works in the A-10 and broadens its role for future combat.

* A broadened wing root to allow for single pylon mounting of 24 GBU-53 "stormbreaker" bombs.

* Pylon for mounting the new AGM-88 HARM missile or (optionally) either an AGM-65 "maverick" missile, four additional GBU-53's or a single JDAM GBU-31/32/38 bomb.
Other options for the pylon are rocket pods, gun pods, fuel drop tanks, drones, etc.

* A General Electric J-85-GE-J1A engine producing 5,000 lbs. of thrust is mounted within the dorsal hump ("razorback") to the rear of the cockpit. The engine can be used to produce additional thrust and/or electrical power for other onboard systems.

* Two custom integrated ALQ-184 electronic attack pods for suppression of enemy air defense and communication systems. Pods are mounted on the wingtips. Variable power can be
allocated by the pilot or rear seat WSO to the pods as desired.

* The two outboard AIM-9L sidewinder mounts are retained for air-to-air defense.

* A Raytheon laser pod is mounted internally in place of the former GAU-8 30mm gun. It can engage drones, missiles and artillery projectiles as well as ground and even air vehicles.
Variable power is available from the auxiliary J-85 engine.

Overall, the new design increases fuel capacity and allows for a standard CAS/suppression loadout consisting of:

* 2x AIM-9L sidewinders
* 2x AGM-88 HARM missiles
* 40x AGM-53 stormbreaker guided munitions
* 2x ALQ-184 attack pods for ECM/EW attack and defense.
* Raytheon laser pod producing 50-150 watts of beam power.

This is a "could be made" theoretical aircraft. Nothing in the design is inherently impossible to equip. The aircraft would retain the A-10's fantastic loiter time, redundant controls and add sensor fusion and multirole radar functions. Pilot protection ("the bathtub") would also be retained. Ordinance loads are within the A-10's already existing capacity. The rear seat weapons officer would use touch tablet controls and keypads to target and direct guided weapons systems and to interact with them.

There is room for capacitors and a generator in the dorsal hump as well as additional fuel. The elimination of the GAU-8 would reduce aircraft weight and while the broadened wing sections and outboard mounted pods might reduce maneuvering performance slightly, it would be more than compensated for by the additional power (hawg with an afterburner!).

The weapons diversity allows the A-10 to compensate for one of its current, big deficiencies--the need to operate in an area where air superiority and defense suppression has already been accomplished. The jammers, AGM-88's and GBU-53's make trying to light the A-10 up for SAM targeting a real risk. Additionally, frontal area attacks by manpads could be countered by the onboard laser system. Drones could also be deployed by future versions of the GBU's and could maintain surveillance for manpad launches and possible even be programmed to autonomously attempt to spoof them or suicide into the launching troops.

Lots of possibilities here and sensor fusion allows the A-10 to "launch and leave" or "loiter and control". I served in an A-10 squadron and hate to see good ideas go to waste. The A-10 just needs a future redesign. Many of its current features are worth retaining.

Comments and questions welcome.

Description
This is a "future A-10" model I proposed about a year back. It takes what works in the A-10 and broadens its role for future combat.

* A broadened wing root to allow for single pylon mounting of 24 GBU-53 "stormbreaker" bombs.

* Pylon for mounting the new AGM-88 HARM missile or (optionally) either an AGM-65 "maverick" missile, four additional GBU-53's or a single JDAM GBU-31/32/38 bomb.
Other options for the pylon are rocket pods, gun pods, fuel drop tanks, drones, etc.

* A General Electric J-85-GE-J1A engine producing 5,000 lbs. of thrust is mounted within the dorsal hump ("razorback") to the rear of the cockpit. The engine can be used to produce additional thrust and/or electrical power for other onboard systems.

* Two custom integrated ALQ-184 electronic attack pods for suppression of enemy air defense and communication systems. Pods are mounted on the wingtips. Variable power can be
allocated by the pilot or rear seat WSO to the pods as desired.

* The two outboard AIM-9L sidewinder mounts are retained for air-to-air defense.

* A Raytheon laser pod is mounted internally in place of the former GAU-8 30mm gun. It can engage drones, missiles and artillery projectiles as well as ground and even air vehicles.
Variable power is available from the auxiliary J-85 engine.

Overall, the new design increases fuel capacity and allows for a standard CAS/suppression loadout consisting of:

* 2x AIM-9L sidewinders
* 2x AGM-88 HARM missiles
* 40x AGM-53 stormbreaker guided munitions
* 2x ALQ-184 attack pods for ECM/EW attack and defense.
* Raytheon laser pod producing 50-150 watts of beam power.

This is a "could be made" theoretical aircraft. Nothing in the design is inherently impossible to equip. The aircraft would retain the A-10's fantastic loiter time, redundant controls and add sensor fusion and multirole radar functions. Pilot protection ("the bathtub") would also be retained. Ordinance loads are within the A-10's already existing capacity. The rear seat weapons officer would use touch tablet controls and keypads to target and direct guided weapons systems and to interact with them.

There is room for capacitors and a generator in the dorsal hump as well as additional fuel. The elimination of the GAU-8 would reduce aircraft weight and while the broadened wing sections and outboard mounted pods might reduce maneuvering performance slightly, it would be more than compensated for by the additional power (hawg with an afterburner!).

The weapons diversity allows the A-10 to compensate for one of its current, big deficiencies--the need to operate in an area where air superiority and defense suppression has already been accomplished. The jammers, AGM-88's and GBU-53's make trying to light the A-10 up for SAM targeting a real risk. Additionally, frontal area attacks by manpads could be countered by the onboard laser system. Drones could also be deployed by future versions of the GBU's and could maintain surveillance for manpad launches and possible even be programmed to autonomously attempt to spoof them or suicide into the launching troops.

Lots of possibilities here and sensor fusion allows the A-10 to "launch and leave" or "loiter and control". I served in an A-10 squadron and hate to see good ideas go to waste. The A-10 just needs a future redesign. Many of its current features are worth retaining.

Comments and questions welcome.