Modern Warplanes

USMC OV-10A Bronco

USMC OV-10A Bronco

The OV-10A Bronco is a twin-turboprop plane designed and built by North American Rockwell (now part of Boeing) for the United States Marine Corps (USMC) and the United States Air Force (USAF) as a light attack and observation plane. It was first flown in 1965 and was used during the Vietnam War.

The Bronco was designed to be maneuverable, able to operate from austere airfields, and able to carry a wide variety of weapons. It had a crew of two, a pilot and an observer/navigator/gunner, and was powered by two Garrett AiResearch T76-G-10/12 turboprop engines, which gave it a speed of about 315 mph (507 km/h). It had a combat radius of about 400 miles (644 km) and a most altitude of 25,000 feet (7,620 m).
 
The OV-10A was armed with a variety of weapons, including machine guns, rockets, and bombs. It was also equipped with a variety of sensors, including cameras and infrared sensors, which allowed it to conduct reconnaissance and surveillance missions.
 
The Bronco was used by the USMC and the USAF during the Vietnam War and was also used by the armed forces of several other countries, including Colombia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. After its military service, some OV-10s have been converted for use in civilian roles such as firefighting and wildlife management.
 
The OV-10 was retired from active service in the US military in the 1990s, but it is still being used by other countries and its rugged design and ability to operate from short airfields make it still a valuable asset in counter-insurgency and close air support operations.
Role Light attack and observation aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer North American Rockwell
First flight 16 July 1965
Introduction October 1969
Retired US (1995)
Status In limited service (2015–present)[1]
Primary users United States Marine Corps (historical)
United States Air Force (historical)
United States Navy (historical)
Philippine Air Force
Produced 1965–1986
Number built 360

Is the OV-10 Bronco still in use?

As of my knowledge cutoff in 2021, the OV-10 Bronco is no longer in active service with the United States military, but it has been used by other countries, particularly for counter-insurgency and close air support operations. Some OV-10s have also been converted for use in civilian roles such as firefighting and wildlife management.
 
In 2020, the U.S. Forest Service announced that it would be using OV-10s to fight wildfires, and the aircraft’s ability to drop water and fire-retardant made it a valuable asset in those roles.
 
Also, in 2021, the OV-10 was used by the Colombian Air Force in a successful operation to take down the leader of FARC, a guerrilla group.
 
So, Even though it’s not in active service with the US military, OV-10 is still being used and maintained by several other countries and private organizations and is still considered a valuable plane for its ability to operate in remote and hostile environments.

Which countries are using USMC OV-10A Bronco?

  • United States Marine Corps: used for forward air control, reconnaissance, and close air support during the Vietnam War
 
  • United States Air Force: used for counter-insurgency operations during the Vietnam War
 
  • United States Navy: used for reconnaissance and forward air control during the Vietnam War
 
  • Colombian Air Force: used for counter-narcotics operations and counter-insurgency operations
 
  • Philippine Air Force: used for reconnaissance and counter-insurgency operations
 
  • Indonesian Air Force: used for reconnaissance and counter-insurgency operations
 
  • Royal Thai Air Force: used for reconnaissance and counter-insurgency operations
 
  • Omani Air Force: used for reconnaissance and counter-insurgency operations
 
  • United States Marine Corps: used the OV-10A Bronco from 1968-1995. Fleet name: VMO (Marine Observation) Squadrons
 
  • United States Air Force: used the OV-10A Bronco from 1968-1975. Fleet name: 19th Tactical Air Support Squadron (TASS)
 
  • United States Navy: used the OV-10A Bronco from 1968-1972. Fleet name: VAL (Light Attack Squadron) Squadrons
 
  • Colombian Air Force: used the OV-10A Bronco from 1984-2015. Fleet name: Escuadrón de Combate N°5 (Combat Squadron 5)
 
  • Philippine Air Force: used the OV-10A Bronco from 1975-2005. Fleet name: 15th Strike Wing
 
  • Indonesian Air Force: used the OV-10A Bronco from 1978-1998. Fleet name: Skadron Udara 18 (Air Squadron 18)
 
  • Royal Thai Air Force: used the OV-10A Bronco from 1977-1997. Fleet name: 23rd Wing
 
  • Omani Air Force: used the OV-10A Bronco from 1977-1997. Fleet name: No.20 Squadron

Did the OV-10 Bronco have ejection seats?

 
Yes, the OV-10 Bronco was equipped with ejection seats for both crew members. The ejection seats used in the OV-10 Bronco were the Martin-Baker MK-1 ejection seats. These seats were designed to be used at low speeds and altitudes and could be operated manually or automatically. The ejection seats were also equipped with a zero-zero (zero speed, zero altitudes) capability, which meant that the crew could safely eject from the plane even if it was on the ground or at a very low altitude.
 
The ejection seats were designed to provide a high level of safety for the crew members, and they were credited with saving the lives of several pilots during the Vietnam War and other conflicts.
 

It is important to note that ejecting from a plane is a risky move and should only be done in emergency situations. Ejection seats are only intended to be used as a last resort when the plane is no longer flyable and the crew’s survival is in danger.

 

 

When was the OV-10 Bronco retired?

 
The OV-10 Bronco retired from active service in the United States military in the 1990s. The USMC retired its OV-10s in the mid-1970s, while the USAF retired its OV-10s in the early 1990s.
 
The OV-10 was replaced in the US military by newer planes such as the Lockheed Martin A-10 Thunderbolt II and the Fairchild Republic A-10.
 
However as I mentioned before, it is still being used by other countries and private organizations, particularly for counter-insurgency and close air support operations. In 2020, the U.S. Forest Service announced that it would be using OV-10s to fight wildfires, and the aircraft’s ability to drop water and fire-retardant made it a valuable asset in those roles.
 
Also, in 2021, the OV-10 was used by the Colombian Air Force in a successful operation to take down the leader of FARC, a guerrilla group.
 
So, it can be said that the OV-10 Bronco has been retired from active service in the US military, but it is still being used and maintained by several other countries and private organizations and is still considered a valuable plane for its ability to operate in remote and hostile environments.
Images Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_Rockwell_OV-10_Bronco
What’s your Reaction?
+1
0
+1
0
+1
0
+1
0
+1
0
+1
0
+1
0

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *