eloise wrote:A-10 can carry 6 Maverick + 8 GBU-12 + 4 CBU-87 all at the same time
You have to realize that's a more of "theoretical" (while still possible) loadout but it's far from what the A-10 will actually carry over actual/real battlefields.
That's due to the fact that such loadout will make a huge impact on the aircraft's performance which while clean is already quite slow and not that agile than imagine what it would be with the loadout that you just described?
With such a loadout the A-10 would be even more of a sitting duck (than it already is while clean or with a light loadout) and as such it would take quite longer for the A-10 to be able to engage and re-engage the enemy.
Resuming, you'll never see an A-10 carrying that loadout over a real battlefield.
More realistic (modern) loadouts would be like in the picture that I previous shared (page 202), which is:
- 2 Mavericks + 2 GBU-12 + 2 Sidewinders (the picture shows only one) + 1 TGP (likely LITENING II)
Other loadout, this over Desert Storm described by the following article posted by weasel:
https://theaviationist.com/2012/12/20/w ... in-action/
Seems to be:
- 6 Mavericks (apparently no other external weapon was carried).
Another loadout used during Desert Storm was this:

Which seems to be:
- 2 Mavericks (1 is visible) + 4 Cluster Bombs (2 are visible) --> It's a fact that other (outboard) pylons cannot be seen but its IMO doubtful that A-10 would carry any more or more significant loadout in that configuration.
“Active stealth” is what the ignorant nay sayers call ECM and pretend like it’s new.