
Also, the report shows the typical engagement with the GAU-8 was around 2,500ft away in a 4-degree dive typically, so not exactly a standoff range and which would mean an altitude of around 175ft AGL.
The average open-fire speed is given as 568ft/s, so if one were to assume the A-10 flew horizontally at that speed at 175ft AGL, and the enemy AA can open fire at anything above 4° of elevation, that's an 8.78-second window of opportunity to shoot at the A-10, which pretty much means you'd need an automated system with fast reaction times to engage it.
As a food for thought, you can check some numbers about the reaction time of the ZSU-23-4 against choppers : https://www.globalsecurity.org/military ... 84/CSJ.htm
The average open-fire speed is given as 568ft/s, so if one were to assume the A-10 flew horizontally at that speed at 175ft AGL, and the enemy AA can open fire at anything above 4° of elevation, that's an 8.78-second window of opportunity to shoot at the A-10, which pretty much means you'd need an automated system with fast reaction times to engage it.
As a food for thought, you can check some numbers about the reaction time of the ZSU-23-4 against choppers : https://www.globalsecurity.org/military ... 84/CSJ.htm
In this example, the target was missed during the first
burst of fire. A second long burst destroyed the target.
The length of time required to complete the operation
previously described will depend on gunner proficiency and
training, but a Soviet article in 1979 stated that in a
timed test of ZSU's engaging targets without radar "the
majority of the crews were lost, much time was wasted
finding targets, refining and using the fire data. The
result of this is that gun crews opened fire, as a rule,
minutes after the helicopters appeared."12 The best
trained crew and most experienced in the test took 32
seconds.
Everytime you don't tell the facts, you make Putin stronger.
Everytime you're hit by Dunning-Kruger, you make Putin stronger.
Everytime you're hit by Dunning-Kruger, you make Putin stronger.