The Air Force’s A-10 Warthog Could Fly for Ukraine and Hit Russian Tanks Hard

I have always said it is time to retire the venerable A-10 “Warthog” Thunderbolt II. The close-air support jet has enjoyed a great combat record over the decades, but it is old and difficult to maintain. The F-35 can instead perform the ground strike missions to save soldiers and marines on the ground and the A-10 is just not needed as much anymore.

But what if the U.S. Air Force took the retired Warthogs and made them available to the Ukrainians for use against the Russians?

A Great Way to Destroy Russian Armor

This is an intriguing idea that could work out great for Ukraine. The A-10 is a “tank plinker” par excellence and the Russian armored vehicles would have to look up in the skies expecting doom at any moment. 

The A-10s could fly with drones to attack Russian tanks and infantry fighting vehicles.

 The A-10 could also take out enemy air defenses and artillery sites.

There Would Be a Learning Curve

The Ukrainian pilots would have to train hard to fly the A-10, but preparing aviators to fly the Warthog is not impossible. 

They must prep for the A-10s noteworthy maneuverability, diving capability, and turning radius. 

Then, the various armaments on the A-10 must be mastered, such as the effective Avenger 30mm rotary cannon on the nose and the Hellfire missiles on its wings.

There are other issues with the A-10 going to Ukraine. Since the airplane is 45 years old, it needs a complete maintenance and repair scheme. It is also dependent on spare parts that would not be readily available to keep the warbirds in the air regularly.

Would Training Take Too Long on A-10 Warthog?

As with the F-16, it would take several months to train pilots and ground crews for use of the A-10.

The war could be over by the time the aviators and maintainers are ready. But the A-10 would still give the Ukrainian military an advantage should a cease-fire be violated and combat commences again.

Vladimir Putin would be angered by A-10s coming into the theater, and this could escalate the conflict. 

Still, Putin’s tanks would be destroyed in numbers, and his troops would have to flee from defensive positions should the powerful A-10 attack Russian targets.

Ukraine Is Turning Up Its Nose

While it makes sense from the United States point of view to give A-10s to Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky’s generals are not sure it is such a good idea.

In the Spring of 2024, then Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall claimed the Ukrainians were shying away from the A-10.

“Ukraine hasn’t expressed much interest. I think they, rightfully, are concerned about their survivability,” Kendall said during a House Armed Services Committee hearing in April 2024.

Kendall may have made an important point. The A-10 is not stealthy or that fast. It makes an inviting target. Russian surface-to-air missiles and shoulder-fired MANPADs could threaten A-10s. During the Global War on Terror, the Air Force did not have to worry about sophisticated surface-to-air missiles launched by insurgents or terrorists. The A-10 then had free reign to attack enemy positions. The Russians, on the other hand, could have an edge when it comes to anti-aircraft systems.

Pair The A-10 Warthog with the Fighting Falcon

However, the A-10 flying with the Ukrainian F-16s could take out enemy SAM systems and that could be a tactical way to address survivability concerns. 

“This idea that they wouldn’t be effective on the battlefield in Ukraine, I don’t subscribe to because this plane was literally designed to destroy Soviet armor and Russian armor. Yes, it’s a bit dated, but so are the ATACMS, so are the HIMARS,” according to Luke Coffey, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute.

A-10 Warthog.

Kendall and Coffey both have valid points. The United States should convince the Ukrainians that the A-10 is a good choice. As Coffey said, the airplane is tailor-made for a mechanized fight and could eliminate many tanks and armored personnel carriers, plus protect Ukrainian soldiers in tight combat situations.

F-16s can protect it when it dives down and fires its weapons. Many A-10s are simply sitting in retirement and are aching to return to the fight. The United States and the Ukrainians could solve the maintenance and spare parts issues. 

The A-10 Warthog Could Help Ukraine Beat Russia 

It is time for Ukraine to win this war decisively. The A-10 Warthog could tip the balance in this bloodbath of a stalemate. Any type of airplane that could deliver that much firepower would be welcome on the battlefield.

This airplane could teach the Russians a lesson on how the A-10 can bring death from above. Yes, there are downsides in survivability and maintenance, but let’s give this airplane a chance to fight in a new theater, eliminating Russian armor in the way it was designed for. 

Time is wasting away and Ukraine needs to pack more of a combat punch to tip the scales. The A-10 could deliver a big boost at the right time.

About the Author: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood

Brent M. Eastwood, PhD, is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare, plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former U.S. Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.