Article

2023-04-30 Syria-Lebanon-Iran

A-10s Return to Middle East with a New Mission, and a New Weapon

The Israel Times reports that the Wall Street Journal reports that the things are carrying bunker busters as a message to Iran.

[DefenseOne] Tensions with Iran, Russia have CENTCOM calling upon the venerable Warthog once again.

A squadron of A-10 Thunderbolt II attack jets, specially modified to nearly triple their bomb loads, has been dispatched to the Middle East to boost U.S. airpower in the region amid increased tensions with Iran-backed forces in Syria.

The Warthogs will get software updates enabling them to carry up to 16 Small Diameter Bombs within weeks, said Lt. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, who leads Air Forces Central Command. # id) ?>

Posted by Beavis 2023-04-30 00:00|| E-Mail|| Front Page|| [1828 views ] Top

1 .....On the one hand, way overdue - SDB has been out there long enough that the Hog should have been first in line to get certified for as many as it can carry.

On the other hand...as hard is this for me to say, the Ukraine or any other P2P conflict is no place for that beast.

Mike

Posted by Mike Kozlowski 2023-04-30 07:25|| 2023-04-30 07:25|| Front Page Top

2 CNN: Remember this? "Will the Pentagon kill off the Warthog?" By Gabe Ramirez, May 7, 2015
Is the A-10 headed for the graveyard? The A-10s Last Dance.
The A-10 Thunderbolt II is a lumbering, old airplane. Taking its first flight in 1975, it was not designed for air-to-air combat like the F-15 Eagle. It’s not sleek or stealthy like the F-22 Raptor. ... But what it lacks in performance and good looks, it makes up for with pure brute punching power. If the F-15 is the Tom Brady of the Air Force, the A-10 is Lawrence Taylor. It is arguably one of the most important post-9/11 aerial fighters in the USA arsenal. It is also close to being put out to pasture. ...the most dangerous foe the aircraft has is budget sequestration and shifting Air Force priorities, not ground fire. ...the venerable warbird is only surviving year to year and may soon be eliminated.
Budget sequestration has put a serious strain on Air Force funds, and the Pentagon leadership thinks the A-10 is too expensive to maintain under the current spending limits when other aircraft can fill similar roles. (Hah!) ..The original goal was to retire the A-10 as the F-35 came online, but the F-35 is still a long way from deployment.

Posted by Slavising Unineting5672 2023-04-30 08:14|| 2023-04-30 08:14|| Front Page Top

3 Good way to "kill them off" is to overuse them in little proxy wars or send them to places where they might get shot down.

Posted by M. Murcek 2023-04-30 08:27|| 2023-04-30 08:27|| Front Page Top

4 The A-10s are largely "sunk costs" so burning them up (instead of brand new F-35s) makes the bean counters smile...

Posted by magpie 2023-04-30 18:52|| 2023-04-30 18:52|| Front Page Top

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