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From: mpm@cbnews.att.com (Michael P Millar)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: What is  an OV-10 "Bronco" Aircraft ??
Message-ID: <1991Jan22.015901.20642@cbnews.att.com>
Date: 22 Jan 91 01:59:01 GMT
References: <1991Jan21.040555.4795@cbnews.att.com>
Sender: military@cbnews.att.com (William B. Thacker)
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
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From: mpm@cbnews.att.com (Michael P Millar)
>From article <1991Jan21.040555.4795@cbnews.att.com>, by sal@grip.cis.upenn.edu (Marcos Salganicoff):
> 
> 
> From: sal@grip.cis.upenn.edu (Marcos Salganicoff)
> 
> I read that one these planes was lost over Kuwait. Apparently, it's
> used by Marine Corps Aviation groups, but that's about all the "talking
> head" said.  Anyone out there care to inform me further?
> 
> Thanks,
> Marcos Salganicoff
> 
> General Robotics and Active Sensing Lab
> UPENN
> Philadelphia, PA (USA)
> 
The North American Aviation (Rockwell International) OV-10 is a twin turboprop
Night Observation Aircraft.  Currently the aircraftis in service with  the 
USMC and US Airforce.  Originally designed for counter-insurgency operations
and artillery spotting in Vietnam, the aircraft has evolved into a complex
weapons system anbd communications platform.  It operates with a crew 
of 2 (pilot and observer) and is capable of laser designating targets for 
other aircraft, Infrared target detection, Strike or strike-reconnaissance,
forward air control, and cargo or paratroop operations.

The most capable version of this aircraft is the OV-10D and the OV-10D+.
All OV-10D's will eventually be configured as the D+ variant.  Only the
USMC use this version.  The aircraft have 3 UHF/VHF radios, an HF radio,
and a wide variety of crypto devices.  This gives the crew the ability
to talk to anybody at anytime or serve as relay for ground-based troops.
Defensively they have an array of electronic systems to warn and ward
off missiles fired at them (APR-39, ALQ-144).      

Armament-wise, the can carry MK81.82,83's  iron bombs, Sidewinder missiles,
2.75 rockets, 5.0 rockets, a GPU-2 gun pod, and have 4 M-60 machine guns
in sponsons.   For more info see "Amercian Combat Planes" by Ray Wagner.

As a side note, probably one of the most decorated Navy squadrons of hte 
Vietnam war was VAL-4 (The Black Ponies).  They flew their missions
with the venerable Bronco.  Although many might consider this aircraft
well-past it's prime, the mission hasn't gone away with high-technology,
and NOBODY has come up with a better way of doing the job the Bronco
crews do.

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I can't speak for myself, let alone AT&T
Mike Millar
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