The U.S. Air Force Is Moving Quickly To Decommission The A-10

The U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II, also known as “Warthog," demonstrates its capabilities at the New York Air Show at Orange County Airport, N.Y., on June 24, 2023. (Petr Svab/The Epoch Times)  

Zero Hedge/Epoch Times: Air Force Wants To Replace Highly Effective Modern A-10 With 'Flying Tinderbox' 

“By scrapping the A-10, the Air Force is guaranteeing more Gold Star families will be created,” according to Charlie Keebaugh, president of the largest group of tactical-air-control party airmen. 

The 2024 version of the National Defense Authorization Act (pdf) allows the Air Force to retire 42 A-10 Thunderbolt 2s in 2024, with the remaining 220 or so to be retired with prejudice by 2029. This retiring of the A-10 “Warthog” is predicated on the fantastical disproven idea that the A-10, which to this day is the most cost-effective plane in the Air Force’s inventory, can be replaced by the F-35.  

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WNU Editor: The ab ove article explains clearly why the F-35 cannot replace the A-10 in conducting close air support, but the mainstream media narrative continues to claim the F-35 will be a success story .... Lockheed Martin’s $1.7 trillion F-35 fighter jet is 10 years late and 80% over budget—and it could be one of the Pentagon’s biggest success stories (Fortune).

U.S. Deploys A-10s With Bunker Busting Bombs To The Middle East In A Message To Iran

An A-10 Thunderbolt II takes off at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, on April 19, 2023, to test a software patch that allowing the plane to carry 16 GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs. U.S. Air Force / William R. Lewis 

Defense One: A-10s Return to Middle East with a New Mission, and a New Weapon 

Tensions with Iran, Russia have CENTCOM calling upon the venerable Warthog once again. 

A squadron of A-10 Thunderbolt II attack jets, specially modified to nearly triple their bomb loads, has been dispatched to the Middle East to boost U.S. airpower in the region amid increased tensions with Iran-backed forces in Syria. 

The Warthogs will get software updates enabling them to carry up to 16 Small Diameter Bombs within weeks, said Lt. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, who leads Air Forces Central Command. 

“They're really here as a message to both assure our partners…but also as…a true capability that can work against some of the threats that we face with respect to Iran,” Grynkewich said in an interview Thursday. 

With each plane carrying four SDB bomb racks, a flight of four A-10s could bomb up to 64 ground targets, a nearly three-fold increase. Each plane can also carry laser-guided rockets along with its famed 30mm tankbusting gun.  

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WNU Editor: I think this is also a message to Russia in Syria, and to the Gulf states who are seeking better ties with Iran AND China. 

U.S. Deploys A-10s With Bunker Busting Bombs To The Middle East In A Message To Iran  

U.S. Arms Warplanes With 'Bunker Busting' Bombs in Message to Iran -- WSJ  

Air Force squadron in Middle East arms up with 'bunker busting' bombs to counter Iran -- FOX News  

A-10 attack plane Air Force wants to retire gets new mission, more bombs -- Business Insider  

US sends warplanes with bunker-busting bombs to Mideast in message to Iran — report -- Times of Israel

The A-10 Can 'Kill' Modern Tanks With Reactive Armor

A-10C munitions render Explosive Reactive Armored tanks inoperative during test  

19FortyFive: Forget Retirement: The A-10 Warthog Can Kill Tanks with ‘Reactive’ Armor 

The A-10C Thunderbolt II Just Became Even More Deadly – The Fairchild A-10 Thunderbolt II was tailor-made for close-air support, and with its unique GAU-8/A Avenger 30mm (1.18-inch) cannon, it has proved to be among the most effective anti-tank aircraft ever devised. Earlier this year, the United States Air Force demonstrated how the aircraft, which has also earned the nickname “Warthog” among its pilots, is able to knock out modern tanks equipped with armor improvements. 

The first-ever tests were conducted at the Nevada Test and Training Range, February 14-25, 2022 – and the 422nd and 59th Test and Evaluation Squadrons successfully proved that modern-day armored vehicles equipped with Explosive Reactive Armor were still vulnerable to the A-10C Thunderbolt II’s GAU-8 Avenger.  

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The A-10 Can 'Kill' Modern Tanks With Reactive Armor  

US Air Force test shows the A-10 Warthog can take out modern tanks with armor improvements with its powerful cannon -- Business Insider  

A-10C munitions render Explosive Reactive Armored tanks inoperative during test -- US Air Force Air Combat Command  

Why the A-10 Warthog Is a Tank Killing Machine -- 19FortyFive  

A-10 remains effective against modern reactive armoured vehicles: USAF -- Flight Global

U.S. Air Force Deploys A-10s To Europe

A-10 Warthogs. US Air Force  

Defence Blog: US Air Force deployed A-10 Warthogs to Europe 

The U.S.Air Force has announced that ten Maryland Air National Guard A-10C Thunderbolt II, better known as Warthogs, attack aircraft assigned to the 104th Fighter Squadron arrived in Iceland, May 5, 2022. 

According to a press release from U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa, four Warthogs transited to Norway, on May 6, while the other six flew into North Macedonia on May 7 to support exercise operations. 

In addition to flying from Norway and North Macedonia, the A-10 aircraft are scheduled to deploy to forward operating locations in North Macedonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Poland to execute their Agile Combat Employment capabilities. 

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Update #1: 'Warthogs' return to Europe for large military drills (Stars and Stripes)  

Update #2: Ten Maryland Air National Guard A-10 Warthogs Have Just Deployed To Europe (The Aviationist)  

WNU Editor: The A-10s are not the only US Air Force planes in Europe right now .... Conga Line Of C-17s Spotted Heading South Over Europe From Norway (Updated) (Warzone/The Drive).

Pentagon Official Issues Warning On The U.S. Air Force's A-10 Fleet

Airman 1st Class Joshua Kleinholz  

Defense News: A-10 official issues warning over US Air Force’s ‘devastated’ Warthog fleet 

WASHINGTON — A U.S. Air Force official managing the A-10 Thunderbolt aircraft says the service is “hollowing” its Warthog fleet by starving it of resources amid a push to retire the aging attack plane — but still continuing to heavily fly it. 

In a March 31 briefing, Pamela Lee, the A-10 systems manager at Hill Air Force Base in Utah, said the Air Force has “resourced the A-10 to divest yet flew it like an enduring fleet, rapidly accelerating [the] decline toward today’s hollowing fleet.” 

The watchdog group Project on Government Oversight posted the slides Tuesday. The Air Force confirmed the slides are authentic, but said they were prepared for internal discussion and that Lee declined to comment.  

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WNU Editor: The A-10 has been on the chopping block for years. But it looks like this time it is going to happen.

A-10 Attack Aircraft Make History By Operating From A US Highway For The First Time

 

Business Insider: Watch these A-10 attack aircraft make history by operating from a US highway for the first time 

* A-10 attack aircraft practiced operating from a Michigan highway on Thursday. 

* The training is believed to be the first time modern aircraft have operated from highways on US soil. 

* US A-10 pilots have repeatedly carried out this type of training in Europe. 

A-10 attack aircraft landed on and took off from a US highway on Thursday in a first for modern Air Force planes. 

Authorities closed off Michigan State Highway M-32 on Thursday for a training exercise in which the Michigan National Guard's 127th Wing, the Air Force's 355th Wing, and Air Force Special Operations Command practiced operating four A-10C Thunderbolt II aircraft and two C-146A Wolfhound special operations transport planes from the roadway.  

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More News On An A-10 Attack Aircraft Make History By Operating From A US Highway For The First Time  

Michigan Air National Guard lands jets, takes off from US highway in military first -- FOX News  

WATCH: A-10s use rural Michigan highway as a runway -- Military Times  

USAF makes history with highway landings in Michigan -- UPI  

Air Force A-10s just made a ‘highway to the danger zone’ in Michigan -- Task & Purpose

A-10s To Conduct Drills Landing And Flying-Off U.S. Highways

 

Warzone/The Drive: A-10 Warthogs Are About To Operate From A U.S. Highway For The First Time  

We have seen USAF highway exercises in Europe and the Pacific, and now they are coming closer to home. 

For the first time in recent history, the U.S. Air Force is going to take its aircraft out onto highways in the United States for an exercise. Four A-10C Warthog attack aircraft and a pair of C-146A Wolfhound special operations transports are due to take part in the road-landing drill, which is a part of the wider Exercise Northern Strike. As well as being a unique event in the United States, the upcoming highway deployment reflects the ever-increasing importance of dispersed operations for the U.S. military, including as part of the Air Force’s Agile Combat Employment (ACE) initiative. 

The highway exercise will take place on August 5 and is being run by the Michigan Air National Guard. With the help of the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT). A stretch of the Michigan State Highway M-32 near Alpena will be closed off for five hours, as the A-10s and C-146s touch down there.  

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WNU Editor: In a peer-to-peer conflict the airports are going to be bombed. You are going to have to use the highway network as an airport alternative.

Politics Is Stopping The A-10 From Being Retired

Two U.S. Air Force A-10A Warthogs, from the 52nd Fighter Wing, 81st Fighter Squadron, Spangdhalem Air Base, Germany, in flight during a NATO Operation Allied Force combat mission. The "Tank Killer" A-10As, deployed to Aviano Air Base, Italy, are specially designed for close air support of ground forces./File Photo  

Reuters: The Warthog and the senator: The politics of retiring a warplane 

WASHINGTON, July 16 (Reuters) - The U.S. Air Force is desperate to get rid of some of its fleet of expensive, slow and outdated A-10 Warthog airplanes, but politicians have blocked the move, aiming to keep the local dollars flowing. 

President Joe Biden wants to retire dozens of the 40-year-old warplanes to free up funding to modernize the military. But within weeks of the release of his proposed defense budget, Democrats drafted a law to keep the planes, many of which are based in Arizona, where Senator Mark Kelly is up for re-election in 2022. 

The negotiations over the A-10, which the Air Force has wanted to retire for more than two decades, show the extensive measures Democrats will take to protect their slim majority in the Senate.  

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WNU Editor: Politics and the Pentagon have always walked hand-in-hand.

Why You Should Not Engage Against An A-10 In A Dogfight

Warzone/The Drive: Fighter Pilots Reveal Why You Don't Want To Mess With The A-10 Warthog In A Dogfight 

Pilots discuss how the A-10 Warthog's tight turning radius coupled with its big gun means it can sting even the best fighters in a dogfight. 

While the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II is the king of close air support (CAS) — supporting troops on the ground with its blistering array of firepower — many would be surprised to know that it is also no slouch when it comes to air-to-air fighting. 

While the “Warthog” isn’t optimized for the air superiority role and lacks key capabilities, such as high-speed, radar, and radar-guided long-range missiles that make its fighter brethren such air-to-air supremos, even the greatest fighter pilots are rightfully wary of getting into a close-in turning dogfight with a ‘lowly’ mud-moving A-10. 

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WNU Editor: Another reason on why the A-10 should not be retired.

U.S. Air Force Upgrading Their A-10 Fleet

Reuters 

National Interest: Why the Air Force Can’t Seem to Retire the A-10 Warthog 

The Air Force is planning a wide range of datalink, radar, sensor, and armament upgrades to sustain the A-10 Warthog into the coming decades. 

The A-10 Thunderbolt II is a unique, and remarkably long-lived, war machine that continues to offer impressive combat performance despite its years. 

In the decades following the end of World War II, western demand for close-air-support (CAS) aircraft—that is, armored strike fighters that carry out attack missions in conjunction with friendly units—dropped precipitously. Instead, the Air Force turned its attention to long-range fighters and nuclear-capable bombers. The Soviet Union, by contrast, continued to place heavy emphasis on its ground forces, producing the Su-25 Grach “flying tank” that went on to enjoy a storied service history with the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. Then came the Vietnam War. The Air Force found that its deployed fighters flew slightly too high, and too fast, to serve a meaningful CAS role over the densely forested Vietnamese terrain. The Vietnam years prompted the Army’s renewed interest in attack helicopters; the Air Force, meanwhile, began to layout plans for a new CAS platform. 

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WNU Editor: These planes are effective, cheaper to maintain, and reliable. Why retire them?

A-10 Warthog Demo Team Executed A Huge Flare Dump To End Its Air Show Season (Video)

 

Warzone/The Drive: The A-10 Warthog Demo Team Executed A Huge Flare Dump To End Its Air Show Season 

With the Warthog demo team ending a very challenging season and its pilot wrapping up his tenure with the unit, some fireworks were in order! With a highly peculiar and challenging air show season wrapping up, the Air Force's tactical jet demonstration teams converged on Fort Lauderdale last week to mark the end of two of the four teams' seasons. 

For the F-22 Raptor and A-10 Warthog demo teams, this Florida show would be their last. We reported on the spectacular over-water photo flight featuring all four teams' jets that occurred late last week, now we have video of the A-10 demo team marking its last show of the season, and the last demo of its show pilot, Cody "ShIV" Wilton, by doing something exceptionally rare for a U.S. air show—dumping a bucket of flares at low altitude across show-center. 

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WNU Editor: Now that is how you end an air-show season.

Watch A-10 Warthog Obliterates A Humvee Drone During Target Practice

 

Boss Hunting: WATCH: A-10 Warthog Jets Run Target Practice On A Humvee 

Civilians such as you and I often have an extremely basic – not to mention inaccurate – understanding of what military engagement actually resembles these days. Predominantly informed by pop culture with the blanks filled in by common-sense assumptions, there’s a world of nuances we’ll never truly understand until we’ve served. Every now and then, however, we’re offered a fascinating glimpse of realistic modern warfare. Like this video of Fairchild Republic A-10 “Warthog” Thunderbolt II jets using an armoured Humvee for target practice. 

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WNU Editor: I just love that brrrrrrt sound.

The US Air Force's A-10s Are Preparing For Their Biggest Upgrade In Over A Decade

 

Warzone/The Drive: The A-10 Warthog Is Preparing For Its Biggest Upgrade In Over A Decade 

A new large-area cockpit display and additional weapons are all in the grand plans to get the A-10 ready for higher-end missions. 

Just six years ago the U.S. Air Force was on the verge of culling its entire fleet of A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, better known as Warthogs. In 2014, the then USAF Chief of Staff, Gen Mark Welsh III, said the Air Force had to retire the A-10 completely if it was to make substantial cuts to its budgets, and that it required freed-up funding and manpower to be channeled into the standup of new F-35 units. Welsh claimed divesting the close air support stalwart would save $3.7 billion across the five-year future-year defense program and another $500 million in cost avoidance for upgrades that wouldn't be necessary. How times have changed. Fast forward to 2020 and the A-10 is not only here to stay, but it’s getting a raft of upgrades to keep it relevant for years to come. New weapons, a new cockpit layout, and an overhaul of tactics are some of the elements now in the pipeline to keep the “Hawg's” tusks sharp and its community a meaningful contributor on the front line fight. 

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WNU Editor: The F-35 was suppose to replace the A-10. But considering how much it costs to maintain the F-35, I have noticed that talk of the A-10 being retired have gone away. This upgrade program confirms it.

For Those Who Enjoy Listening To The A-10 Gun

WNU Editor: Quoting from one of the commentators .... "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Except the A-10. It'll just freaking kill you." Rob O'Neill

Here Is A Video That Describes Everything About The A-10

Business Insider: An A-10 demo pilot gives one of the most detailed tours of the Warthog that we've ever seen

* The US Air Force A-10 demo team was assigned a new jet in September 2019, ahead of the 2020 airshow season.
* In a recent video, Maj. Cody "ShIV" Wilton, commander of the demo team, introduces you to the team's new Warthog.

As we first reported last year, the US Air Force A-10C Thunderbolt II demonstration team was assigned a new jet in September 2019, ahead of the 2020 airshow season.

The aircraft, serial 80-0275, was repainted by the 355th Equipment Maintenance Squadron at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, and given a paint scheme said to be inspired by P-51 Mustangs and P-47 Thunderbolt during WWII.

Now you can get up close and personal with that very same A-10 (aka "Warthog" or "Hog" or "Hawg") as Major Cody "ShIV" Wilton, the commander of the A-10 Demo Team, performs a really detailed walkaround of his aircraft in a stunning video filmed by our friend Erik Johnston.

You rarely have a chance to get such a detailed description of all the aircraft parts, systems, sensors. It's really impressive.

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WNU Editor: A well down video that describes everything about the A-10. A must see.

F-35 Vs. A-10 Warthog

Wikimedia

National Interest: F-35 Vs. A-10 Warthog: Which Plane Wins the Battle for Close Air Support King?

The US Army wants the F-35 to support its ground troops, but Congress loves the A-10.

Here's What You Need To Remember: Regardless of the conclusions arrived upon by the ongoing assessment, it is likely both the A-10 and F-35 will perform CAS missions in the immediate years ahead.

The US Army wants the F-35 to support its ground troops.

It’s that simple. We hear volumes of information about the Marine Corps vertical-take-off-and-landing F-35B, Navy carrier-launched F-35C and Air Force F-35A - but what does the Army think of the emerging Joint Strike Fighter?

Does the Army think the 5th-Gen stealth fighter would bring substantial value to targeting and attacking enemy ground forces in close proximity to advancing infantry? What kind of Close Air Support could it bring to high-risk, high-casualty ground war?

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WNU Editor:I have been hearing for years that there will be  F-35 vs. A-10 close air support test to see which one is the best. And each year it is always postponed with the excuse that the F-35 is not ready. That tells me which of the two planes is best in providing CAS.

Pentagon Tries Again To Retire Its A-10 Fleet

A U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II, assigned to the A-10C Thunderbolt II Demonstration Team, taxis down the flight line at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, Feb. 27, 2020. (U.S. Air Force photo/Casey E. Bell)

Military.com: Lawmakers Move Once Again to Rescue A-10 Warthog from Retirement

The Senate Armed Services Committee isn't keen on the U.S. Air Force's plans to retire legacy aircraft in favor of new technology, putting a stop to some proposed aircraft retirements and delaying others.

In the committee's version of the fiscal 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, lawmakers say that the service must operate a minimum number of aircraft for each major mission set. The legislation also "prohibits the divestment of aircraft until the minima are reached to ensure that [the] Air Force can meet [National Defense Strategy] and combatant command requirements."

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Update #1: Lawmakers attempting to rescue A-10 Warthog from retirement again (War Is Boring)
Update #2: Senate Panel Rejects Air Force Plans to Start Grounding A-10 Jets Based in Tucson (AviationPros/The Arizona Daily Star)

WNU Editor: Its all come down to having limited funds, and the need to keep the F-35 program funded .... Senate defense bill limits Air Force’s aircraft retirement plans (Defense News)

Two A-10s Flying And Diving Together (Video)

A Look At A Battle Damaged A-10 Warthog Getting Back In The Fight

A low-quality picture of The Unleasher at its undisclosed operating location. USAF

Warzone/The Drive: Battle Damaged A-10 Warthog Gets Back In The Fight With Help From A Little Telemedicine

Engineers working from their bedrooms and basements helped determine how serious the situation was and crafted a repair plan.

As the COVID-19 pandemic rages on and Americans remain urged to stay home as much as they can to help prevent further outbreaks, employers, including the U.S. military, have encouraged working from home whenever possible. At the same time, healthcare providers have expanded the use of so-called telemedicine, remotely diagnosing and prescribing treatments, giving the virus fewer opportunities to spread and reducing the strain on medical personnel and infrastructure. These two worlds converged in a way recently when a team of Air Force engineers, at times working from their bedrooms and basements, helped 'diagnose' a battle-damaged A-10 Warthog ground-attack aircraft and prescribe a 'treatment' plan to maintenance personnel downrange without ever having to meet to face-to-face.

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WNU Editor: Another example on how tough the A-10 is.

U.S. Ground Troops Overwhelmingly Prefer The A-10 Over The F-35

National Interest: Ground Troops Overwhelmingly Prefer the A-10 Over the F-35 or Anything Else

When American troops lay their lives on the line in combat, they expect that their country will give them the best available support and protection. We can do no less than give them the close air support platform they know they need.

Many Air Force senior officers contend that close air support (CAS) can be done by any platform that can launch a guided weapon at a set of target coordinates.

Combat teaches otherwise.

Troops who've needed and received close support in combat know how dangerous it is to think of targets as nothing but GPS coordinates. They found out the hard way that their high priority threats are hard to detect, even harder to distinguish from friendlies, and prone to shift rapidly from moment to moment. That's why they feel so strongly that nothing is more important than a pilot dedicated to expertise in close support—and why they have such strong preferences for the A-10 over any other platform. The results of a survey of 500 combat-experienced Joint Tactical Air Controllers and Joint Fire Observers say it all:

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WNU Editor: Always listen to the soldiers on the ground who have experienced combat. If they favour the A-10 over the F-35, it is because of that experience.