Posted on 11/28/2014 7:12:52 AM PST by pabianice
The low- and slow-flying A-10 Warthog jet is back in the Middle East—seven years after the attack planes withdrew.
The prospect of A-10s joining the war against Islamic State was subject to rumors in September, when elements of the Indiana Air National Guard’s 122nd Fighter Wing—which flies the twin-engine A-10—deployed to Southwest Asia.
The Air Force finally confirmed the A-10s were in the region on Nov. 24, noting the aircraft “landed here over several days” between Nov. 17 and Nov. 21.
While it’s not clear whether the Indiana A-10s have carried out any strikes against Islamic State yet … they surely will soon. The Warthogs’ mission is to provide close-air support to Iraqi army and police and Kurdish Peshmerga troops fighting on the ground.
An Air Force spokesman confirmed to Air Force magazine that the A-10s “will only be supporting military requirements in the Gulf region, including but not limited to, Operation Inherent Resolve.”
(Excerpt) Read more at medium.com ...
It would make sense.
The Navy has their own planes and pilots. Since the A10 would be working as close ground support as attack choppers do, it makes sense to me for them to be under the direct control of the folks they’re working with.
I’ve never been in the military, but have always been a very respectful ‘fan’, with many relatives who have served in wars, however I’m by no means an ‘expert’ about such things.
My Great Grandfather was in WWI, Grandfather was in WWII, Great Uncle was in Korea, Father was in Vietnam. I wasn’t QUITE old enough for Iraq I, and there was no way in hell I was gonna enlist when Clinton was president. My father told me that I would be an idiot, because presidents like Clinton get people killed. (he knew by his experience from Johnson/Vietnam)
It’s fortunate that they gave him the peace prize before he did anything — he wouldn’t get it now after his adventures in Libya, Afghanistan, and now Iraq.
Slow because it’s a flying cannon and low so the cannon is optimally effective.
BTW, does “slow and low” make the Warthog the barbeque of aircraft?
The Warthog, how many times has this ship been written off only to be pulled back into service in yet another campaign? They refuse to not make another or build a newer version despite its recognized successes.
Because the A-10 is a political football, and the USAF has always hated it, the best thing to do might be to pay an ally to build a “mothball fleet” of A-10s.
It is already a very modular design, so the finished aircraft would have a bunch of empty slots for up to date electronics. And certain parts, like the engines and the titanium “bathtub” for the pilot, would be US make.
But then, if the need arose, almost overnight we could put together and field say 400 aircraft.
What has Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual got to do with it? (I know, laser-guided, bombs) ;>)
The line forms behind me, age before beauty.
That’s why it’s official name is the Thunderbolt II..
It doesn't look like much sitting still, but in the air, a thing of grace and beauty in the right hands...and doom on those it hunts...
Tremendous aircraft, and one I hope we keep in the arsenal.
Despite the best efforts of the USAF brass to kill it the Hog flies....
Kill them all let Allah sort it out
Go Wart Hogs
My favorite jet except for when I am flying (commercial only). Lived near Willow Grove and they would fly overhead. I often wondered about the logic of retiring them but after reading the source article and clicking on related links, I read this and if they become targets, how well do they fair?
One of our own Freepers, Hulka, was an A-10 jocky. Any others here?
Are they still shooting that awesome depleted uranium ammo?
Seems like overkill for shredding Toyota pickup trucks.
Need an A-10 or two in Furgison, MO... for crowd dispersal..
The “tank killers” shoud be able to handle Toyoto pick ups.
Great idea, if we only could...
Seems like some pencil-necked geek of a cost account scrapped out all the tooling used to build new A-10s!
That's why crew chiefs were scrambling to cannibalize useful parts from older, shot-up hulks to keep newer, airworthy planes flying.
Regards,
GtG
LOL, good question. If there’s a lower cost round, you’d think that would be plenty good enough for smashing pickups.
“A-10’s need to be deployed here at home on all of the gimme-gimme Ferguson rioters.”
If obama were to deploy them for use here I don’t think it will be against the Ferguson rioters.
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