The old workhorse has been brought back to play in the Iran military action. The US has lost most of it's active radar air defense sites and expended two years worth of production of interceptor missiles in a very short period of time.
They have now deployed approximately 35% of the fleet of A10s to the ME fill many combat roles from destroying launchers to ground attack to air to air intercept of drones, which are easy targets for the old beast.
I wonder if this is it's last war?
https://theaviationist.com/2026/03/16/a-10-thunderbolt-iis-operation-epic-fury/
When I was a kid, the A-10 Warthog and the F-4 Phantom were my favorite planes.
Interesting to see the A-10 being called up for action one more time.
I always thought retiring the Warthog and putting the F-35 in it's role was a bad idea. The A-10 was built to take hits and keep flying. The F-35 wasn't.
IMHO, the US needs to think about a true replacement for the A-10.
Pentagon is Doubling Fleet of A-10 Attack Plans in Middle East (https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/01/us/politics/attack-planes-iran.html?unlocked_article_code=1.X1A.3VJh.vJPvlWdAnyFO&smid=url-share)
QuoteThe Air Force has sought for decades to retire the 1970s-era attack plane, but it has proved a mainstay in supporting ground troops since the 1991 Persian Gulf war. Commanders have also used A-10s to attack Islamic State terrorists in Syria.
Quote from: DarkAxel on March 20, 2026, 01:56:08 PMI always thought retiring the Warthog and putting the F-35 in it's role was a bad idea. The A-10 was built to take hits and keep flying. The F-35 wasn't.
IMHO, the US needs to think about a true replacement for the A-10.
We
kind of did, but not really:
Super Tucano (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embraer_EMB_314_Super_Tucano)
Because there isn't really a replacement for the A-10. Sure, the Warthog is vulnerable in contested airspace, or when faced with MANPADs, but it fits in nicely with the air superiority/air supremacy doctrine of the U.S. If/when hit, the Warthog is designed to fly with one engine, one elevator, half a tail and half a wing missing.
While the majority of the Warthogs kills in the Persian Gulf were with the AGM Maverick, that 30 mm cannon is just incredible. I think the cool factor of "we built a plane around a gun" plus the morale boost it brings in the close air support role is immeasurable.
Practical? Sometimes. Awesome? Always.