Key Points on A-10 Warthog – The A-10 Thunderbolt II “Warthog,” a Cold War-era aircraft famed for its tank-busting 30mm cannon and rugged close air support in Iraq and Afghanistan where its presence often demoralized adversaries, is nearing retirement.
-Despite its effectiveness in permissive air environments, the A-10’s design—lacking speed, stealth, and advanced electronic warfare capabilities—makes it highly vulnerable to modern integrated air defenses and contemporary fighter aircraft, as underscored by its unsuitability for the contested airspace over Ukraine.
-Consequently, the US Air Force is proceeding with a phased withdrawal of the A-10, replacing it with more advanced platforms.
Meet the A-10 Warthog
The American A-10 Thunderbolt II experienced a renaissance of sorts during the United States’ involvement in the Middle East as part of the Global War on Terror. Indeed, the A-10 Warthog is truly a flying legend.
There, rather than destroying massed Soviet armored formations, the Warthog instead flew in support of troops on the ground.
Thanks to the A-10’s rapid speed and its heavy assortment of weaponry, which could be carried underwing — including its incredibly destructive 30mm Gatling gun, buried within the airframe — the jet was not only physically destructive but also wreaked havoc on the minds of those it targeted. One A-10 pilot put it very succinctly.
“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,” one A-10 pilot, call-sign “McGraw,” explained to Business Insider. “We’ve heard that for years,” he added.
“I unfortunately can’t see [them throw weapons down],” McGraw further elaborated, “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.”
However, despite the platform’s utility in the Middle East, the A-10’s long reign in the sky is nearing its end.
The War in Ukraine and the Threat on the Modern Battlefield
Despite the Warthog’s prodigious capabilities and the reputation it earned in Afghanistan and Iraq in support of troops on the ground, the ongoing war in Ukraine has cemented the belief that the Cold War-era tank killer would struggle to survive the rigors and threats posed by the modern battlefield.
The front in Ukraine is among the most heavily contested aerial environments in the world right now, with both Russian and Ukrainian forces leveraging prodigious electronic warfare assets against each other’s significant fleets of drones. So powerful are these electronic warfare assets that jet fighters from both sides avoid approaching the front for fear of the other side’s air defenses. Instead, long-range bombers on the Russian side lob air-launched cruise missiles at Ukrainian positions. For their part, Ukrainian forces also launch munitions far behind their lines.
Given the inability of more agile, modernized jets like the F-16 to persist in the face of formidable anti-air assets, the A-10 would be unlikely to perform any better. In fact, the A-10’s lower service ceiling and much slower top speed are significant shortcomings with serious negative implications for survivability.
Indeed, in recognition of this, the Ukrainians themselves have not asked for A-10 deliveries despite that jet’s record of supporting American infantry. Former Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall said, “Ukraine hasn’t expressed much interest. I think they, rightfully, are concerned about their survivability,” while speaking during a House Armed Services Committee meeting.
A Partial Retirement
Reports from last year detailed that the A-10s stationed with the 25th Fighter Squadron at the South Korean Osan Air Base in South Korea would “begin the phased withdrawal” by sometime this year. “By introducing advanced fourth and fifth-generation aircraft like our upgraded (F-16 Fighting Falcons), along with (F-35 Lightning IIs) and (F-15EX Eagle IIs) in the Pacific region, we are significantly enhancing our overall air combat capabilities in the Korean theater,” Seventh Air Force Commander and U.S. Forces Korea Deputy Commander Lieutenant General David Iverson said in an Air Force statement covering the move.
Earlier this year, a total of six Air National Guard A-10C Thunderbolt II jets were grounded in Sicily thanks to a dearth of spare parts. Although they have since moved back to the United States, the grounding reflected the difficulties in obtaining spares while abroad.
The U.S. Air Force deactivated the 354th Fighter Squadron, which had flown A-10s since 1991, and a total of 39 A-10s were reportedly retired as of 2024. However, some A-10s based in the Middle East are still flying combat sorties against ISIS elements in Syria and possibly elsewhere.
What Now for A-10 Warthog?
Although the United States Army has previously expressed intense interest in retiring the A-10 platform, given the difficulties it would likely face when facing modern air defenses, the pushback from pork barrel politics has proven to be powerful. A-10 sustainment supports local economies and is, therefore, a reason to stay, whether in production or in service.
Still, the A-10’s legacy on the U.S. Army of the post-Vietnam era has been remarkable. Although initially designed to destroy Soviet armor, the A-10’s usefulness, most notably in environments without electronic warfare or anti-aircraft elements, proved enduring. But with the new administration intent on cutting waste and excess, the A-10’s retirement could soon be accelerated.
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.
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