The A-10 was used in combat for the first time during the Gulf War in 1991, destroying more than 900 Iraqi tanks, 2,000 other military vehicles and 1,200 artillery pieces, making it by far the most effective aircraft of the war.
The A-10 was designed by people who rejected the Pentagon’s way of gold-plating everything. Same people who designed the F-16 . . . you know, a small light maneuverable aircraft.
We had a unit lunch once upon a time with LTG Gary Luck, who I think had just finished a tour at USASOC commander. We were at Ft Campbell in one of the restaurants on the strip. I got a chance to talk to him, and we were just killing bulls. I asked him, “If you could have any weapons system, which would you choose?”
His reply: “Chaplain, I want some of everything.”
There’s a time and a place for super-armored hummers, as IEDs proved in Afghanistan. And there’s a time and place for stand off capabilities for light infantry troops.
There isn’t anything we have that can’t be killed, and the same for our enemy. And there’s always a way to kill what they have that’s currently killing us.
Some of everything.