logo
#

Latest news with #A10

A-10 Warthog Already Has The Capability To Use Laser-Guided Rockets To Shoot-Down Drones
A-10 Warthog Already Has The Capability To Use Laser-Guided Rockets To Shoot-Down Drones

Yahoo

time02-07-2025

  • Politics
  • Yahoo

A-10 Warthog Already Has The Capability To Use Laser-Guided Rockets To Shoot-Down Drones

We have just learned that one of the most successful adaptations of an existing weapon in recent memory — morphing laser-guided air-to-ground rockets into counter-drone weapons — can be accommodated on three USAF aircraft, not just two. First, the F-16 got the version of the Advanced Precision Kill Weapons System II (APKWS II) that takes 2.75″/70mm Hydra rockets and turns them into drone and cruise missile busters, followed very recently by the F-15E Strike Eagle. Now we have learned that the A-10 Warthog has also received at least the ability to employ these weapons in the air-to-air role, although the type's remaining service is now measured in months, not multiple years. In the recently released budget request for 2026, the Pentagon documentation states that APKWSs featuring guidance sections with specialized Fixed-Wing Air-Launched Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems Ordnance (FALCO) software installed are cleared for use on the F-16, F-15E, and the A-10. The rockets use laser guidance and a proximity fuze to explode near subsonic, low-maneuverability targets like drones and cruise missiles. TWZ was first to report on the testing of this configuration of APKWS back in 2019. APKWSs were first used operationally as anti-air weapons in the surface-to-air role, with Ukraine receiving the VAMPIRE system that has proven to be highly successful. Since then, APKWS II has entered operational U.S. service in the air-to-air role, and has become a standout in the Middle East, where F-16s swatted down Houthi drones with it at a fraction of the price of an air-to-air missiles, the cheapest of which costs nearly half a million dollars. The anti-air APKWSs costs less than a tenth of that. In May, we learned the F-15E — the USAF's most celebrated aerial drone hunter — could employ them, too. The rockets also dramatically expand the air-to-air magazine capacity of the aircraft they are mounted on (over six times the number of potential engagements in the F-15E's case). The A-10 as a drone hunter is an interesting prospect. The aircraft's loiter time, slow and low-flying capabilities, and even its unique air-to-air dogfighting agility, could come in as a real benefit for taking out long-range one-way attack drones, especially the most prevalent propeller-driven type. Where the A-10 would be less effective is in rapidly taking out faster-flying drones and cruise missiles. This is due to its lower speed, with less ability to 'run-down' multiple targets in a short time period during incoming saturation raids. Still, AH-64 Apaches have become critical counter-drone weapons, providing screening for lower-performance long-range one-way attack munitions, particularly in Israel. The U.S. Army is also expanding its use of the Apache in this role, and helicopters, including in Ukraine, are playing a larger role in counter-drone defense, in general. The A-10 has far superior speed capabilities over helicopters, so it does sit inside something of a sweet spot, performance-wise, for dealing with lower-end, long-range drones. The A-10 also lacks a radar, which would make it harder for it to independently spot an incoming aerial target at distance, lock its targeting pod onto it, and successfully engage it. This could potentially be overcome with a podded radar system, at least to a degree. Leveraging datalinked target tracks from off-board platforms could also significantly offset this deficiency. On the other hand, the A-10 can also carry a lot of rockets, and I mean a lot. Extra magazine depth would be beneficial during combat air patrols that have to confront a sustained drone onslaught. Above all else, the A-10 paired with FALCO APKWSs would be most effective at defending a certain installation or limited geographical areas, such as an island outpost or forward staging area, against long-range one-way attack drones and even some cruise missiles. The same weapons can also be used against surface targets, especially long-range unmanned surface vessels. These are roles the U.S. military will have no shortage of as it prepares for a fight in the Pacific. The counter-air APKWS portfolio is set to grow dramatically, with BAE Systems working on a seeker kit for the rockets that adds a pseudo 'fire-and-forget' capability. In other words, an aircraft does not have to maintain a lock on the target and continuously lase it in order for the rocket to kill it. The new seeker would look where the laser spot is pointed, then lock on and fly autonomously to its target – no further laser designation needed. This will provide for far more flexible employment of these weapons, with more targets being able to be addressed in a given time period. Right now, two aircraft work together best to execute air-to-air APKWS engagements, one lasing and firing. This should be more easily handled by one aircraft with the new upgraded seeker kits, as well. At the same time, when it comes to the A-10, this is largely moot because the USAF has issued its final call to cull what remains of the Warthog fleet. According to its latest budget request, the Warthog's bacon will be fried by the end of the 2026 Fiscal Year. So we are talking about just 15 months left of the iconic attack jet gracing the skies, before they are all sent to bake in the Arizona desert. Before this budget, the A-10 fleet was planned to be fully retired by the end of 2028. On the other hand, the jet's seemingly ready-to-go efficient counter-drone capability could actually make it more attractive for transfer to Ukraine, something that has been raised in the past. In fact, this may be even more important than its ground attack capability, or even the fact that it is a hardy jet-powered aircraft that can lug around and launch advanced NATO munitions. Currently, Ukraine's fighter force, as well as helicopters and even dated Yak-52 trainers, are tasked with drone hunting. Augmenting this force with A-10s and freeing up the country's F-16s and Mirage 2000s, in particular, for more advanced work could be attractive to the war-weary country. Though there has long been talk about Ukraine acquiring A-10s, many have questioned their efficacy in the conflict. Working in the Shahed-busting role certainly blunts some of those criticisms. Of course, that is if the war continues on long enough to see anything like this come to fruition. Jordan has been raised as another potential taker for A-10s after their retirement from U.S. service. Starting last year, the Jordanian armed forces have found themselves contending with Iranian drones, as well as missiles, flying overhead on their way to targets in Israel on several occasions, and have taken action to shoot them down. Paired with FALCO APKWSs, Warthogs could also bolster Jordan's counter-drone arsenal. It's a bit ironic that just as one of the world's most iconic ground attack aircraft to ever fly is about to end its service, its air-to-air capability against drones could be one of the biggest missed opportunities brought on by its retirement. Contact the author: Tyler@

Turkcell and A10 Networks Collaborate to Develop a Future-ready, Sustainable, and Secure Network Ecosystem
Turkcell and A10 Networks Collaborate to Develop a Future-ready, Sustainable, and Secure Network Ecosystem

Business Wire

time30-06-2025

  • Business
  • Business Wire

Turkcell and A10 Networks Collaborate to Develop a Future-ready, Sustainable, and Secure Network Ecosystem

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Türkiye's leading telecommunications and technology company, Turkcell (NYSE: TKC) (BIST: TCELL), and A10 Networks (NYSE: ATEN) have built a long-standing relationship focused on delivering robust, carrier-grade NAT (CGNAT) infrastructure enhanced with integrated security solutions. This collaboration has contributed to Turkcell's ability to support its high-performance network architecture, enabling scalability, reliability, and protection against evolving cyber threats. By combining CGNAT efficiency with integrated features, the relationship continues to set new benchmarks for resilient and high-performing digital connectivity. Our long-standing relationship with Turkcell underscores our commitment to delivering world-class software-based security and infrastructure solutions. Continuing the strategic collaboration in 2025, Turkcell is accelerating the virtualization of its network infrastructure with the support of A10 Networks' advanced software solutions. The transition includes carrier-grade networking, Gi-firewall capabilities, and integrated DDoS protection — all key components for building an agile digital ecosystem. As part of this transformation, Turkcell aims to fully virtualize its carrier-grade NAT services in the short term. Keeping Pace with Subscriber Growth Despite the global shortage of IPv4 addresses, Turkcell has effectively scaled its infrastructure to support growing subscriber demand and an increasing number of connected devices seamlessly. Building on its existing carrier-grade networking deployment, Turkcell is further expanding its virtualized infrastructure using A10 Thunder® software solutions, enabling seamless IPv4 address extension while accelerating the adoption of IPv6. Turkcell has successfully supported millions of subscribers without IPv4 constraints or degraded service quality. The transition to IPv6-ready infrastructure has improved network efficiency and facilitated compatibility with 5G and IoT deployments. Improving Scalability, Agility, and Operations Turkcell leverages A10's unique scale-out architecture to dynamically scale its services in response to growing traffic and subscriber demands, ensuring seamless service continuity while paving the way for next-generation, high-performance network evolution. By leveraging A10's advanced telemetry and real-time monitoring capabilities, Turkcell adds comprehensive visibility into network performance and operational status. The platform's operator-centric interface facilitates the rapid identification and resolution of issues, streamlines operational processes, reduces complexity, and significantly decreases OPEX by minimizing manual intervention. Additionally, the shift from hardware-based to software-defined infrastructure helps reduce the physical footprint, as well as energy consumption and maintenance costs. "Our collaboration with A10 Networks enables us to respond effectively to the evolving needs of our subscribers, achieving one of the highest virtualization rates globally along with significant gains in operational efficiency, cost optimization, and network performance," said Prof. Dr. Vehbi Çağrı Güngör, chief technology officer at Turkcell. "Our long-standing relationship with Turkcell underscores our commitment to delivering world-class software-based security and infrastructure solutions," said Dhrupad Trivedi, CEO of A10 Networks. "A10's innovative technology helps enhance performance, reduce costs, and improve security, allowing Turkcell to meet its business objectives and positioning it as a leader in digital transformation." About Turkcell Turkcell is a technology and telecommunications company headquartered in Türkiye, offering a unique portfolio of voice, data, and IPTV services over its mobile and fixed networks, along with digital consumer, enterprise, and techfin services. Turkcell Group operates in three countries: Türkiye, Belarus, and Northern Cyprus. Listed on both the NYSE and BIST since July 2,000, Turkcell remains the only dual-listed company on these exchanges. Read more at About A10 Networks A10 Networks provides security and infrastructure solutions for on-premises, hybrid cloud, and edge-cloud environments. Our 7000+ customers span global large enterprises and communications, cloud, and web service providers who must provide business-critical applications and networks that are secure, available, and efficient. Founded in 2004, A10 Networks is based in San Jose, Calif., and serves customers globally. For more information, visit and follow us at A10Networks. The A10 logo and A10 Networks are trademarks or registered trademarks of A10 Networks, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

A10 Selected by Microsoft to Protect Mission-critical AI Infrastructure
A10 Selected by Microsoft to Protect Mission-critical AI Infrastructure

Business Wire

time25-06-2025

  • Business
  • Business Wire

A10 Selected by Microsoft to Protect Mission-critical AI Infrastructure

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A10 Networks, a global leader in high-performance DDoS mitigation and application protection, today announced its selection by Microsoft to help secure mission-critical generative AI workloads. The milestone reflects A10's strength in scaling protection for AI-optimized infrastructure and reaffirms its role in safeguarding the next wave of cloud innovation. As part of this engagement, A10 is delivering advanced threat detection and mitigation capabilities tailored for the demands of hyperscale AI deployments. 'We're proud to support the buildout of the world's most advanced AI platforms as part of a collaboration and help ensure continuous protection for billions of transactions powering tomorrow's innovation,' said Dhrupad Trivedi, A10's board chair and CEO. Follow us on Social Media About A10 Networks A10 Networks provides security and infrastructure solutions for on-premises, hybrid cloud, and edge-cloud environments. Our 7000+ customers span global large enterprises and communications, cloud and web service providers who must provide business-critical applications and networks that are secure, available, and efficient. Founded in 2004, A10 Networks is based in San Jose, Calif. and serves customers globally. For more information, visit and follow us at A10Networks. The A10 logo and A10 Networks are trademarks or registered trademarks of A10 Networks, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Couples tie the knot during a festival on an Amsterdam ring road
Couples tie the knot during a festival on an Amsterdam ring road

Arab News

time21-06-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Arab News

Couples tie the knot during a festival on an Amsterdam ring road

'It just seemed like super fun idea,' Lisowska said'It's a nice party we didn't have to organize,' said IozzelliAMSTERDAM: Securing a coveted slot to exchange wedding rings on Amsterdam's usually traffic-choked ring road seemed like a good omen for Zuzanna Lisowska and Yuri Iozzelli's future life together.'It just seemed like super fun idea,' Lisowska said. 'And, you know, statistics were on our side. There were 400 couples who wanted to do it, so we feel really lucky to have been chosen.'Friends and total strangers cheered and clapped as they told each other 'I do!' as part of a day-long festival on parts of the A10 highway that circles the Dutch capital closed to traffic for the day.'It's a nice party we didn't have to organize,' said only regret was not being able to bring their pet rabbit. 'It was too hot,' Lisowska said after exchanging rings with city that is known for partying said that some 600,000 people tried to get access to the ring road festival last month when more than 200,000 free tickets were made city folk, from parents pushing strollers to students and grandparents, stopped to watch the weddings and enjoyed the one-off opportunity to see the road without the usual cacophony of them was communications student Kyra Smit.'It's really fun because it's a once-in-a-lifetime thing,' she said. 'It's so fun that you can say to people, wow, I'm married on the rings, so I really like this.'The day was packed with events from music performances to readings, meetups and a fun run, shortened because of the heat. Organizers even placed a temporary forest of more than 8,000 trees on the municipality laid on extra water taps and places where revellers could slap on sun block as temperatures soared to 30 degrees Celsius (86F) and upwards on the road city's official birthday is Oct. 27, reflecting the first time a variant of its name was used in an official document, and is staging celebratory events in the year leading up to that date. The festival on the ring road is the biggest so far and gave Amsterdam residents a new view of their ring road.'It's quite strange because normally you drive here and now you're walking, so that's a totally different situation,' said Marjolein de Bruijne, who works close to the A10.

Amsterdam's unique ring road festival sees wedding on the A10
Amsterdam's unique ring road festival sees wedding on the A10

The Independent

time21-06-2025

  • Entertainment
  • The Independent

Amsterdam's unique ring road festival sees wedding on the A10

In an unconventional twist, Zuzanna Lisowska and Yuri Iozzelli exchanged wedding rings on Amsterdam's typically traffic-choked A10 ring road, transforming a bustling highway into a unique wedding venue. The couple viewed securing a slot on the usually congested route as a good omen for their future together. The ceremony took place as part of a day-long festival that saw sections of the A10 highway, which encircles the Dutch capital, closed to vehicles. Friends and complete strangers gathered to cheer and applaud as the couple said "I do!" For Ms Lisowska, the unusual setting was simply "a super fun idea." She added: "Statistics were on our side. There were 400 couples who wanted to do it, so we feel really lucky to have been chosen." Mr Iozzelli quipped that it was "a nice party we didn't have to organize." The unique ceremony offered a memorable start to their married life, turning a symbol of urban congestion into a celebration of love. Their only regret was not being able to bring their pet rabbit. 'It was too hot,' Lisowska said after exchanging rings with Iozzelli. The city that is known for partying said that some 600,000 people tried to get access to the ring road festival last month when more than 200,000 free tickets were made available. Curious city folk, from parents pushing strollers to students and grandparents, stopped to watch the weddings and enjoyed the one-off opportunity to see the road without the usual cacophony of cars. Among them was communications student Kyra Smit. 'It's really fun because it's a once-in-a-lifetime thing," she said. "It's so fun that you can say to people, wow, I'm married on the rings, so I really like this.' The day was packed with events from music performances to readings, meetups and a fun run, shortened because of the heat. Organizers even placed a temporary forest of more than 8,000 trees on the blacktop. The municipality laid on extra water taps and places where revellers could slap on sun block as temperatures soared to 30 degrees Celsius (86F) and upwards on the road surface. The city's official birthday is Oct. 27, reflecting the first time a variant of its name was used in an official document, and is staging celebratory events in the year leading up to that date. The festival on the ring road is the biggest so far and gave Amsterdam residents a new view of their ring road. 'It's quite strange because normally you drive here and now you're walking, so that's a totally different situation,' said Marjolein de Bruijne, who works close to the A10.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store