A-10A THUNDERBOLT II : SCUD HUNTER

This unusually appearing aircraft was brought to the Gulf area with the intention of destroying Iraqi tanks and assisting allied ground troops. But the recent attacks on Israel by Iraqi Scud missiles has forced the A-10 into a new mission - the search and destruction of the Scud in the remote Iraqi desert. Here’s a look at the plane known as the Warthog.

* The A-10 can operate effectively in very poor weather conditions, enabling it to fly under low clouds in battle conditions. It also flies at very slow speeds, which gives the plane a short turning radius in combat compared to other attack fighters. It is most effective when directed by E3- AWACS and JSTAR electronic radar planes to search and destroy enemy locations and weapons.

* The A-10 is adept at avoiding SA-8 surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) and shoulder-fired missiles. It is also highly maneuverable, enabling it to evade Soviet MiG interceptors.

* One feature that pilots love about the Warthog is the plane’s ability to sustain massive combat damage and still fly. It can lose half of the tail assembly, much of the wing, one of its two engines and one of four other surface attachments and still fly.

Wingspan: 57 ft. 6 in.

Length: 53 ft. 4 in.

Max Speed: 423 mph

GAU-8A Avenger

This 30mm, 7-barrel revolving cannon is so accurate that even when fired from 4,000 ft., over 80% of the rounds fired will hit within 20 feet.

* Its armor-piercing shells are made of depleted uranium, which is extremely hard and slices through even the heaviest tank armor. Upon impact, the force of each shell has the energy to lift a 30-ton tank one foot in the air.

* The depleted uranium ignites, sending a jet of flame into the tank.

Armor-piercing incendiary shell

Length: 11.4 inches

Weight: 2.05 pounds

AGM-Maverick

This precision air-to-surface guided missile has a range of 25 miles, giving the pilot much greater standoff distances. It can be fitted with a camera, laser or infrared guidance system.

HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS

1) A Boeing 707 outfitted with JSTART radar detects motion or radar emissions from SCUD missiles as they prepare for launch and radios location to the A-10.

2) The A-10 flies low toward targets--below 100 ft.--to avoid radar detection.

3) Pilot ascends and fires a Maverick missile or a burst from the 30-mm cannon at the SCUD missile.

4) Makes a 2,700-foot-radius turn--tighter than a pursuing aircraft could make--flying close to the ground toward its next target.

5) The A-10 returns and fires at a second target and flies away.