Posted on 11/28/2014 7:12:52 AM PST by pabianice
The low- and slow-flying A-10 Warthog jet is back in the Middle East—seven years after the attack planes withdrew.
The prospect of A-10s joining the war against Islamic State was subject to rumors in September, when elements of the Indiana Air National Guard’s 122nd Fighter Wing—which flies the twin-engine A-10—deployed to Southwest Asia.
The Air Force finally confirmed the A-10s were in the region on Nov. 24, noting the aircraft “landed here over several days” between Nov. 17 and Nov. 21.
While it’s not clear whether the Indiana A-10s have carried out any strikes against Islamic State yet … they surely will soon. The Warthogs’ mission is to provide close-air support to Iraqi army and police and Kurdish Peshmerga troops fighting on the ground.
An Air Force spokesman confirmed to Air Force magazine that the A-10s “will only be supporting military requirements in the Gulf region, including but not limited to, Operation Inherent Resolve.”
(Excerpt) Read more at medium.com ...
A-10’s need to be deployed here at home on all of the gimme-gimme Ferguson rioters.
If the slugs don’t get’em on a hit, the depleted uranium radiation will! :0)
Even better with the upgrade to A-10C standard.
The most important thing about it these days isn’t even the low level capability with the gun. It’s the ability to loiter at medium levels and using LITENING or Sniper, self-designate for using LGBs.
I don't know about that, but Obama does hold the record for most countries bombed by a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.
Still, nothing prettier than a warty flying sideways through a mountain pass with guns a blazing.
Oh Brother! A couple of A-10s would have fun with that convoy.
The last thing you hear.
I believe that depleted uranium is not radioactive (at least to a harmful degree).
Like the Hammer of God with wings.
“Well I guess we will find out if the Muzzies got hold of Hillary’s, err I mean Libya’s missing Stinger missiles.”
Many years ago, I actually asked an A-10 pilot about this at an air show. He explained that these things generally circle in pairs, and you have to stand up in a relative clearing and aim in the general direction of the plane in order to use one of these. It is extremely difficult and highly unwise to actually stand up in the open with these airplanes overhead because there is never a moment when at least one of pilots would not have their eyes on you. And the planes have been retrofitted with even better optical aids and off-axis (not just the big gun) weaponry since then.
Interesting!
For certain, the A10 is one of the best Aircraft ever made! (personally, I believe they should be managed and flown by the Army)
When time comes, auto rotations are THE answer to the Fighting Man's prayer.
:-)))
Army A-10’s bump....
God protect her pilots.
For a plane that gets killed by the Pentagon every 18 months, it sure does manage to make it back over the theater of combat a lot.
Maybe we should put some Generals in an old tank out on a practice range to show them an A 10 strike from the inside.
Perhaps an A-10 or two in Fergeson might prove useful.
It would be perfect for the Army or Marines.
I'd LOVE to see camera footage of that. I bet it's literal hell!
I saw footage from AT-4 and RPG hits on the inside of tanks, and it was pretty nasty.
Yeah, I have a pic somewhere of an AR ANG Warthog, with the Arkansas Razorback nose art, doing just that (ok, except for the gun firing) It’s that Razorback nose that really makes the pic.
Shame they had to give it up. It was the coolest A-10 nose art out there. 23rd FW/Flying Tigers being a very close second. The IN ANG birds that are deploying (the Blacksnakes) have snakehead nose art.
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