By Kris Osborn, Warrior
Few are likely to forget the passionate deliberations surrounding initial US Air Force decisions to begin “retiring” or “divesting” its fleet of A-10 Warthog “flying tanks” in favor of more modern Close Air Support platforms such as an F-35, F-22 or upgraded F-16.
The debate is still ongoing, because despite the Air Force’s formal decision to ultimately retire the A-10s, the aircraft continues to be requested by Combatant Commanders and deployed to critical global hotspots. In December 2024, A-10s were deployed to the Philippines in support of collaborative dual-nation combat preparation air exercises. Now, A-10s are once again deploying to the Middle East in support of US Central Command’s mission and area of responsibility.
Ground Support in the Middle East
In several key respects, there is little debate that A-10s could prove extremely effective in a variety of contingencies in the region, as many potential adversaries simply do not operate the kinds of advanced air defense systems which might otherwise make the A-10 obsolete. Accordingly, should the US extend or further intensify its attacks upon Houthi targets such as dismounted groups of fighters, lower-flying attack platforms such as the A-10 could prove effective.
A-10s have a powerful 30mm cannon beneath the fuselage which fires directly from the nose or front end of the aircraft, a weapon which could blanket enemy areas with incoming fire much more lethal and wide-reaching than standard small arms. Maneuvering groups of Houthi fighters might be difficult to strike from higher-altitude fighter jets because air-to-ground weapons such as guided missiles and rockets might prove insufficient against dispersed, fast-moving groups of fighters. A 30mm cannon fired from an A-10, however, might be able to keep pace with, track and fire down upon pockets of ground troops seeking to maneuver. In this respect, a platform such as an A-10 could potentially prove effective in some circumstances in which faster fighter jets might encounter challenges.
Armed with a titanium hull, A-10s would be positioned to fly low and slow over enemy areas and absorb large amounts of small arms fire, enabling pilots to maneuver the aircraft and reposition to attack groups of enemy fighters on-the-move in combat. With its built-in redundancy, an
A-10 could continue to attack even in the event that some of its systems or components were destroyed or disabled by enemy fire.
A-10 Pilot
Several years ago, an A-10 pilot told Warrior about the A-10s redundancy and the advantages it brings.
“So when I lose all the computers and the calculations, the targeting pod and the heads up display, you can still point the aircraft using a degraded system at the target and shoot. We are actually trained for that,” former A-10 pilot Lt. Col. Ryan Haden, 23rd Fighter Group Deputy, Moody AFB, told Warrior Maven in a previous interview several years ago
“The 30mm cannon has 7 barrels. They are centered the way the aircraft fires. The firing barrel goes right down the center line. You can point the aircraft and shoot at the ground. It is designed for air-to-ground attack,” Haden explained.
Armed with 1,150 rounds, the 30mm cannon is able to fire 70-rounds a second.
A-10 Weapons
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.
The aircraft can carry 16,000 pounds of mixed ordnance—eight can fly under the wings and three under the fuselage. When it comes to targeting, navigation, and precision, enhancements in mission computing could prove crucial to upgrading combat performance for the A-10 by enabling new weapons systems for the platform.
This contingency or potential circumstance with the Houthis could easily apply to many areas throughout the Middle East, particularly because there are many places where US forces would operate with air superiority or be able to quickly establish it. While an A-10 might always be vulnerable to RPGs and shoulder-fired weapons to an extent, it seems the Warthog could add value in many key areas throughout the Middle East, as there are a high number of operations for which a high-speed fixed wing aircraft might prove less effective against a threat.
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 Masters Degree in Comparative Literature from Columbia University
