A-10
Shreveport-Bossier City civic leaders learn more about the A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft during the 917th Wing Civic Leader Tour Thursday, Feb. 28, here at Barksdale AFB, La. The A-10 Thunderbolt II provides close air support of ground forces by attacking tanks, armored vehicles, and other ground targets, also providing a limited air interdiction role. It is the first U.S. Air Force aircraft designed exclusively for close air support. A-10s can employ a wide variety of conventional munitions, including general purpose bombs, cluster bomb units, laser guided bombs, joint direct attack munitions, wind corrected munitions dispenser or WCMD, AGM-65 Maverick and AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles, rockets, illumination flares, and the GAU-8/A 30mm cannon. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Robert J. Horstman)