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2026-03-16 Syria-Lebanon-Iran

A-10 Thunderbolt II close-air-support aircraft are actively involved in Iran

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Posted by badanov 2026-03-16 00:00|| E-Mail|| Front Page|| [1802 views ] Top
File under: Govt of Iran

1 "Did you request the Brrrrrt? Why yes, you did!"

Posted by Frank G 2026-03-16 00:51|| 2026-03-16 00:51|| Front Page Top

2 Warms my heart ;)

Posted by Warthog 2026-03-16 09:38|| 2026-03-16 09:38|| Front Page Top

3 Eeeehhhh.... I would verify this one. A-10s would need active SEAD assets with them, top cover and refueling assets along with search and rescue if a MANPAD gets lucky.

They usually only operate in airspace that has a very low anti-air risk and one thing the Iranians have in bulk is MANPADS.

Posted by DarthVader 2026-03-16 10:20|| 2026-03-16 10:20|| Front Page Top

4 They probably deadly against the Iranian mini boats

Posted by BrerRabbit 2026-03-16 10:42|| 2026-03-16 10:42|| Front Page Top

5 @3 I doubt the Iranians have any aircraft, service to air missiles or AAA left.

As to the MANPADS they just need to stay up around 20,000 feet where MANPADS can't reach. Essentially the same approach they took in Desert Storm

Posted by Chantry 2026-03-16 11:02|| 2026-03-16 11:02|| Front Page Top

6 Heard that

Posted by mossomo 2026-03-16 12:23|| 2026-03-16 12:23|| Front Page Top

7 Sorry not buying this based on lack of airspace control. The US is being extremely careful not to lose aircraft to enemy action (although they have admitted to losing them to friendly fire, technical issues, etc). I love me some A10's but this isn't the place for them to shine. Not right now.

Posted by Clem+Elmish4239 2026-03-16 13:30|| 2026-03-16 13:30|| Front Page Top

8 Curious what real benefit an A-10 would provide given a 20,000 hard deck to avoid MANPADS? Legendary CAS aircraft has great loiter time and ordnance load-out so maybe over-water interdiction fits?

Posted by NoMoreBS 2026-03-16 14:16|| 2026-03-16 14:16|| Front Page Top

9 Dated
Iranian Kamikaze Drone Boat Makes First Successful Strike Of War

Posted by Skidmark 2026-03-16 14:32|| 2026-03-16 14:32|| Front Page Top

10 Chantry they were on the deck and got shot. A lot during Desert Storm. Please check your sources. A Lt. Col lost an engine and part of a tail to AAA on an attack run and instead of punching out, nursed it back to base and landed. A-10 was toast but she made it.

Posted by DarthVader 2026-03-16 16:24|| 2026-03-16 16:24|| Front Page Top

11 And the only way the A-10 would be worth two spurts of piss at 20,000ft is if it had preprogramed GPS bombs on it. Yes it can't program them in flight due to VERY old electronics and it still barely has night attack capabilities.

In essence, it does it's best work at 5,000-50 ft and hand delivers its hate.

Posted by DarthVader 2026-03-16 16:26|| 2026-03-16 16:26|| Front Page Top

12 Interesting facts DV. Thanks :-)

Posted by Besoeker 2026-03-16 16:28|| 2026-03-16 16:28|| Front Page Top

13 @10 My source: Warthog: Flying the A-10 in the Gulf War By William Smallwood who interviewed the pilots of an A-10 squadron in England that deployed for Desert Storm. In the paper back version it is Chapter 4, page 41. Chapter 5 goes
into the A-10's use at night. I was bit off on the altitude, they generally flew at 15,000 feet. It's been a while since I read the book. In addition to the gun and either dumb or laser guided bombs, they also used AGM-65 Mavericks Infrared (IR) missiles as sort of a half assed FLIR at night. They have upgraded the A-10's quite a bit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairchild_Republic_A-10_Thunderbolt under the Upgrades section.

Posted by Chantry 2026-03-16 17:38|| 2026-03-16 17:38|| Front Page Top

14 In essence, it does it's best work at 5,000-50 ft and hand delivers its hate.

I admit some tumescence. Not apologizing. Just saying

Posted by Frank G 2026-03-16 17:58|| 2026-03-16 17:58|| Front Page Top

15 Yeah... and that IR system they used from the Maverick was like being blindfolded and only using a straw to see while going down the highway at 80mph. <--another A-10 pilot quote.

They still are running what is 1999-2003 electronics and are being retired this year.

Posted by DarthVader 2026-03-16 18:02|| 2026-03-16 18:02|| Front Page Top

16 Looks more like stock footage.

Posted by Woodrow 2026-03-16 20:20|| 2026-03-16 20:20|| Front Page Top

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