Posted on 04/08/2026 2:09:24 AM PDT by Libloather
The A-10 Warthog has a new maritime role in targeting boats in the war in Iran that could extend the life of the aircraft, which the U.S. Air Force had been attempting to retire for years.
Despite the Air Force trying to phase out the A-10, Congress has resisted its efforts and blocked attempts to reduce the number of these aircraft.
A-10s have been used in the U.S. military campaign against Iran, as the Pentagon sees a need for an aircraft that can loiter and deliver accurate fire against small boats and coastal threats.
During a Pentagon briefing last month, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine said that A-10 aircraft were "in the fight" and operating across the southern flank of the conflict, including targeting Iranian boats in the Strait of Hormuz.
"We continue to hunt and kill mine storage facilities and naval ammunition depots. We continue to hunt and kill afloat assets, including more than 120 vessels and 44 mine layers, and the pressure will continue," Caine said in the March 19 briefing.
"The A-10 Warthog is now in the fight across the southern flank and is hunting and killing fast attack watercraft in the Straits of Hormuz. In addition, AH-64 Apaches have joined the fight on the southern flank, and they continue to work on the southern side. And that includes some of our allies who are using Apaches to handle one-way attack drones," he continued.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Agreed that the A-10 has nothing to really take it’s place. There is maybe one or two aircraft that could take over some aspects of it, but nothing really takes the place of that old A-10. Keep it going & make improvements to it, but please keep it going. It costs tons to even try to develop something better & if it doesn’t succeed, that is money down the drain...there’s already too much of that going on.
SeaHog!
“Unfortunately they got Trump on board with it as he gave a speech at Selfridge ANG Base in Michigan where the F-35 will replace the A-10s.”
Reminds me of NASA’s attitude regarding Space Shuttle. Why keep all of these other proven launch systems when Shuttle CAN DO IT ALL!...until it cannot get off the ground for months at a time, and then it blows up every 50 flights.
I agree! I think if the AF is so hell bent on getting rid of the A-10 they should give them all to the Marine Corps!
+1,000
Well said.
Well, the older ones may be needed to be refurbished and given to marines and army or other arms of our military services.
Then a newer, more advanced one needs to be developed. Big enough for the cannon, though. Longer loiter time, better armor. Ability to control local drones loitering with them.
Maybe add 4 .50 cal machine guns, with lots of hardpoints(though they have a lot of them).
Not sure the Super Tucano is a good substitute. Maybe for certain types of missions... Would rather see an updated big baby p-47....if one wants a prop job.
IMHO
“The A-10 needs to be retired. The loiter time is about 2 hours. Reapers can do 24 hours at 1/4 the cost…”
And yet the brass, who perpetually want to retire the A-10, call up the A-10, often late in the operation, for all kinds of missions that only the A-10 can do.
Idaho ANG has some of these based at Gowen. They fly over my house all the time.
I can tell they’re A10s without looking, as the engines have a distinctive sound.
A few years back a couple of us (Marines) were walking on a lake bed during the winter and got buzzed by two A-10s. We saw them coming from a long way off. They jogged sideways at the last minute to not hit us with their jet wash. What a memory.
I also saw what may have been an experimental crop duster once. He put on a hell of a personal airshow for me. It was loud and clearly didn’t have mufflers. It used a church steeple as a pylon and did 180s around it and flew some where else and came back in a couple of minutes. He did it several times. What was striking was the unbeliveable tight turning radius he did.
I flew a Cessna 150 before and this was half that turning radius.
Think of the possibilities...
https://airtractor.com/aircraft/at-802a/
“...hunting and killing fast attack watercraft ...”
-
Democrats: “Those are just poor fishermen”
There’s a bunch of them at Davis Monthan in Tucson. Always very active.
Yea, but do the Reapers have a 30 MM cannon firing 6000 RPM?
Yup. 30mm. Corrected up thread. First version was “only” 20mm.
Makes a mess of things. Fun video: https://youtu.be/RGjatJVgIXM
That cannon is so powerful it almost stalls the plane.
One A-10 can do the work of more than 5 thousand ground pounders 24/7.
I’m not sure about 5,000. Have friends who are “ground pounders.” They are kind of bad###. That said they do like when an A10 comes by. That sound. Brrrrrr. It’s amazing. Or so I’ve been told.
What are the chances that the A-10A will eventually make it to the civilian market?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.