Raytheon Technologies has signed a contract with the United States Air Force to upgrade the A-10 Thunderbolt II fighters. For US$ 46,2 million, the company will supply a new computer for the aircraft, with modernized processing to control combat systems.
In this way, the current mission computer and weapons management system, in use since 1970, will be replaced by a new version of the Raytheon. The new central management system, called COSMC, can be used on any aircraft, and was chosen due to its low implementation cost.
“Our COSMC system is a significant technological advancement for the A-10”, said Denis Donohue, president of Airspace and Communications Management Systems at RI&S. “This platform-independent system provides the generational upgrade needed for Warthog to remain highly capable well into the future. We look forward to transforming and reinvigorating our customers' platforms so they are ready to tackle any mission, any challenge.”
The A-10 Thunderbolt II fighter also recently gained another significant upgrade, this one comprising a new pair of wings for each plane, extending the lifespan of the A-10.
Each kit consists of outer and center wing assemblies, control surfaces and fuselage integration kit. The updated wings are more durable, efficient and easier to maintain, extending the lifespan of the A-10s to 10.000 hours.
Also called the Warthog, the A-10 is now the only dedicated attack aircraft in the US fleet. Although the USAF has tried to retire the A-10 several times over the years, the plane is still going strong in the fleet, receiving long-term upgrades and repairs, such as new wings and integration of new advanced weapons. Despite being a veteran aircraft, the A-10 remains relevant even against certain modern threats.
