Move Over, F-35: The A-10 Warthog Is the ‘Punisher’ Iran Can’t Seem to Beat

The A-10 Warthog Looked Like It Was Headed for Retirement. Then The Iran War Started

The A-10 Warthog has been revered for generations by grateful ground forces who credit the famous “flying tank” for saving them from enemy fire.

And, to be honest, we can’t get enough of the A-10. As you can see, we visited the A-10 Warthog on display at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force just last year.

Although the future of the combat-tested aircraft has been debated for years, there is little question about its combat performance.

Despite the many efforts to sunset the famous aircraft, the U.S. Air Force is once again surging the Warthog into aerial attacks on Iranian small boats in the Strait of Hormuz.

A-10 Warthog Bombs. Image Credit: National Security Journal.

It makes sense that the A-10 would be hunting Iranian small boats in the Strait of Hormuz, as it can operate beyond the range of lethal anti-aircraft fire, such as MANPADs, grenades, small arms fire, or other shoulder-mounted ground-to-air weapons.

While the A-10 is reinforced with a large titanium hull built to withstand small-arms fire, the aircraft could be vulnerable to ground-fire weapons attacking in large numbers.

Operating over the ocean, however, allows the aircraft to hover or fly slowly in lower-altitude positions to attack Iranian small boats, vessels, or coastal targets.

Built to Take Fire 

Nonetheless, the A-10 is built for the close-in fight and operates with specifically engineered redundancy to enable the aircraft to continue its attacks after sustaining damage.

During the Gulf War, for example, an A-10 completed its combat mission and landed safely after losing a wing to enemy fire.

Therefore, the current A-10 missions could be described as “high-risk, high-reward” because, while the aircraft could be vulnerable to some shore-fired anti-aircraft fire, it is uniquely positioned to provide close air support to military and commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

A-10 Warthog NSJ Photos. Image taken on 7/20/2025.

The A-10 is well-positioned to use its weapons to deter or destroy Iranian small boats seeking to harass ships passing through.

The mission to target and kill Iranian small boat swarms has so far yielded strong results, according to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan “Raizin” Cane, who recently told reporters that at least 120 vessels have been hunted and destroyed.

The Warthog is known for being able to fly low and slow, almost hovering, in order to maneuver in support of ground forces facing enemy fire. Its lethality is greatly enhanced by a 30-mm cannon directly aligned beneath the nose of the aircraft and able to attack straight-on from the very front.

This is the kind of weapon and approach that enables linear, rapid-fire air attacks against maneuvering small boats seeking to swarm large commercial or military ships.

30mm Cannon Fire

Using its 30-mm cannon and other munitions, the A-10 could attack and destroy drone swarms in the air as well. For example, the A-10 fires the AIM-9X Sidewinder, a precision-guided missile that can be launched from the aircraft to track and destroy aerial targets.

70-Rounds per Second

Armed with 1,150 rounds, the 30-mm cannon is able to fire 70 rounds per second, a rate of fire that could prove effective against small boats and aerial drones. The cannon could effectively blanket small-boat swarms with suppressive and lethal fire.

A-10 Warthog Cannon NSJ Photo. Taken at U.S. Air Force Museum on 7/19/2025.

With a heavily reinforced titanium hull, the A-10 is built to withstand small-arms fire and maintain operational effectiveness. Its effectiveness against enemy fire is also greatly helped by a built-in redundancy, with duplicate systems such as electronics, engines, or weapons to ensure the plane can keep flying even if certain vital systems are destroyed by enemy fire.

The A-10 carries a full complement of weapons, including GPS-guided Joint Direct Attack Munitions. Its arsenal includes GBU 38s, GBU 31s, GBU 54s, Mk 82s, Mk 84s, AGM-65s, AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles and rockets, along with illumination flares, jammer pods, and other protective countermeasures.

A-10 Fires Maverick Missile

The A-10 also fires the  Maverick, an air-to-ground missile that has been in service since the Vietnam era.

The weapon recently received an upgraded laser-seeker, along with new software configurations to better enable it to hit targets on the run. This could prove extremely effective in targeting small maneuvering boats.

A-10 Warthog National Security Journal Photo.

The Maverick uses Semi-Active Laser guidance to paint the target. It can also use infrared and electro-optical guidance to attack targets.

It can use a point detonation fuse designed to explode upon impact, or a delayed fuse that allows the missile to penetrate a structure before detonating as a way to maximize its lethal impact. It uses a 300-pound blast-frag warhead engineered to explode shrapnel and metal fragments in all directions near or on a designated target. This kind of munition, supported by laser targeting or even a proximity fuse, could prove effective against small boats on the move.

Bomb Truck Mode

The aircraft can carry 16,000 pounds of mixed ordnance—eight munitions can fly under the wings and three under the fuselage.

When it comes to targeting, navigation, and precision, mission computing enhancements could prove crucial to upgrading combat performance for the A-10 by enabling new weapon systems.

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About the Author: Kris Osborn 

Kris Osborn is the President of Warrior Maven – Center for Military Modernization. Osborn previously served at the Pentagon as a highly qualified expert in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army—Acquisition, Logistics & Technology. Osborn has also worked as an anchor and on-air military specialist at national TV networks. He has appeared as a guest military expert on Fox News, MSNBC, The Military Channel, and The History Channel. He also has a Master’s Degree in Comparative Literature from Columbia University