The A-10 Thunderbolt II, sometimes given the moniker “Warthog” and developed by Fairchild-Republic, is a twin-engine aircraft developed during the Cold War with the express intention of hunting down Soviet Bloc tanks and other armored vehicles.
Using an enormous 30mm cannon built into the fuselage as well as a variety of ground-attack munitions, the A-10 is a formidable air asset.
Straight wings and a low minimum speed give the A-10 excellent maneuverability and a long loiter time on station.
Given the A-10’s role as a tank hunter and its likely low-level passes against ground targets, the airplane was heavily armored and explicitly designed to absorb a great amount of ground fire and still survive.
In addition to redundant flight systems, the A-10 pilot sat in a titanium bathtub that protected against a variety of fires.
Though built to destroy Soviet armored platforms, the A-10’s most significant combat contributions came not from obliterating tanks from the east but rather during the Global War on Terror in Afghanistan and Iraq.
A-10 Warthog: A Deadly Reputation
The United States A-10 Warthog fleet really came into its own in support of troops on the ground as part of the United States’ involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In those theaters, A-10 pilots didn’t hunt down Soviet armored formations — instead, they served as a quick-response ground support element.
The jet’s reputation was reportedly very fearsome. One pilot explained that the distinctive noise the A-10 made on approach was an intense depressive on enemy morale.
“Lot of times [when] we’re overhead, they’ll just put their guns down and go away because they know the A-10 is overhead,” an A-10 pilot, who asked to be called “McGraw,” explained to Business Insider. “We’ve heard that for years.”
“I unfortunately can’t see [them throw weapons down],” McGraw explained, “but there’s been numerous times over the years when I’ve heard radio calls and phone calls and [been] talking to teams on the ground [and] … they know when the A-10 is overhead.”
“I know over the years we’ve been called ‘the monster’ and other intimidating names,” McGraw said. “When they hear or see A-10s, they know the business end of combat is overhead and [that] maybe it’s time to retreat and withdraw because… they know the punishment that we can deliver is pretty devastating.”
The sun is setting on the A-10, however.
Modern Threats: The War in Ukraine
The A-10 lacks air-to-air radar and flies at subsonic speeds. Combined with a large radar and infrared signature, the A-10 would be an easy target against enemy fighters or surface-to-air missiles.
It’s one reason the A-10 has not been supplied to Ukrainian forces in their struggle against Russia following Moscow’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
American policymakers have noted that Ukraine’s airspace is highly, highly contested — in all likely, some of the most intense electronic warfare ever has taken place along the front in Ukraine — and that is an environment where the A-10 would not easily survive. Russian fighter jets, long stand-off missiles, as well as integrated surface-to-air missile stations would deter A-10 Warthog jets, in effect excluding them from the military aid packages sent to Ukraine.
A-10 Warthog. Image: Creative Commons
A-10 Warthog. Image: Creative Commons.
A-10 Warthog. Image: Creative Commons.
Image: Creative Commons picture of A-10 Warthog.
The lengthy training pipelines for pilots and maintainers, as well as the logistical complexities of operating yet another platform, outweigh the benefits of pressing Cold War-era A-10s into the fight in Ukraine.
And the Ukrainians themselves haven’t expressed a great deal of interest in the jet. Speaking at a House Armed Services Committee meeting, former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said, “Ukraine hasn’t expressed much interest. I think they, rightfully, are concerned about their survivability.”
Postscript
The U.S. Air Force has repeatedly expressed interest in phasing out the A-10 Thunderbolt as a cost-saving measure that would see funds directed toward the A-10 instead invested into more relevant U.S.A.F. programs.
However, the program has found enduring support from Congress, which has, on occasion, mandated that America’s flying branch keep the airplane in service despite the steep limits placed on the jet by modern anti-air threats.
When it entered service, the A-10 was a close air support aircraft that was well-designed and well-positioned to hunt down and destroy enormous Soviet armored formations, stopping them in their push west toward NATO forces.
However, that jet, formidable though it is, is not well suited for high-intensity aerial warfare in highly contested electronic warfare environments.
Given the advancements made in air defense since the A-10’s entry into service, the A-10 will lean more on its historical legacy in Iraq and Afghanistan rather than hang its hopes on future combat service for additional close air support experiences.
About the Author: Caleb Larson
Caleb Larson is an American multiformat journalist based in Berlin, Germany. His work covers the intersection of conflict and society, focusing on American foreign policy and European security. He has reported from Germany, Russia, and the United States. Most recently, he covered the war in Ukraine, reporting extensively on the war’s shifting battle lines from Donbas and writing on the war’s civilian and humanitarian toll. Previously, he worked as a Defense Reporter for POLITICO Europe. You can follow his latest work on X.
