The A-10 Warthog is renowned for its durability, able to fly with one engine, one elevator, half of its tail, and half of a wing missing. Its resilience has kept it in service for 47 years, making it one of the longest-serving aircraft in history. The A-10 remains vital due to its unique design for close air support, unmatched in the U.S. inventory for protecting troops on the ground.
The A-10’s development began when the U.S. entered the Vietnam War in 1965, revealing the inadequacies of the then-current Douglas A-1 Skyraider. The need for a modern ground-attack aircraft led to the creation of the A-X program in 1966. Northrop and Fairchild Republic were selected to build prototypes, and Fairchild’s YA-10A won the fly-off competition, leading to the production of the A-10, known to allies as the Warthog and to enemies as a relentless force from the skies.
The A-10’s first combat appearance was in 1983’s Operation Urgent Fury, although it didn’t see action until the Gulf War in 1991. During this conflict, A-10s flew 8,100 sorties, launched 90% of the AGM-65 Maverick missiles, and achieved a 95.7% mission capable rate. The A-10 continued to prove its worth in conflicts in Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria, and other regions requiring close air support.
The A-10 is built around its primary weapon, the 30mm GAU-8 Avenger autocannon, capable of firing 3,900 rounds per minute. It also carries AGM-65 Maverick missiles, cluster bombs, Hydra 70 rockets, GPS and laser-guided bombs, JDAMs, and AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles. The aircraft’s defense includes 1,200 pounds of titanium armor and redundant flight systems, allowing it to survive significant damage.
Upgrades have kept the A-10 relevant, with new wings from Boeing, electronic countermeasures pods, data links, advanced weapons integration, and synthetic aperture radar pods for precision targeting. These enhancements ensure the A-10 remains a critical asset in modern warfare.
