Air Superiority Unleashes A-10 Over Iran, To The Chagrin Of USAF Leadership

[rangerrebew]

Air Superiority Unleashes A-10 Over Iran, To The Chagrin Of USAF Leadership
By Brent Beecham
March 16, 2026
 
Editor's Note: The USAF leadership has tried hard to get rid of the A-10, good thing they were not successful

The A-10 Thunderbolt II, known as the Warthog, has once again demonstrated its enduring utility, despite repeated retirement efforts by the U.S. Air Force. Originally engineered during the Cold War to counter massed Soviet armored formations in Central Europe—primarily through its GAU-8/A 30mm Avenger cannon and AGM-65 Maverick missiles—the platform has repeatedly adapted to evolving operational demands.

In Operations Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom, and Enduring Freedom, the A-10 excelled in close air support (CAS) against conventional armor and irregular forces. Following the drawdown of those large-scale ground engagements, service leaders prioritized development and acquisition of fifth-generation fighters and advanced standoff capabilities. Yet, each time the platform faced phase-out, emerging threats revived its relevance.

The ongoing conflict in Iran—Operation Epic Fury—has provided the latest revival. Lessons from the Russia-Ukraine war highlighted the challenges of countering low-cost, massed one-way attack drones, such as the Iranian-designed Shahed series. High-performance fighters employing costly air-to-air missiles or even precision-guided munitions like the AGR-20 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) prove inefficient and resource-intensive against swarms of inexpensive unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). High-speed, low-altitude maneuvering further complicates engagements for fast jets.

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[rangerrebew]

To the Chagrin the Hogs are beating down Iran?  Then that leadership needs to be shitcanned and put back in the cockpits of Cessna 152s flying recon over Iran.

[Hoodat]

The Air Force should not be a part of this equation.  Let the Army and Marines purchase their own A-10s.  There is no excuse for making them go through the Air Force first to purchase aircraft.  The Army should not be blocked from going to Lockheed directly to purchase more C-130s, much less some A-10s.

[PeteS in CA]

The Air Force should not be a part of this equation.  Let the Army and Marines purchase their own A-10s.  There is no excuse for making them go through the Air Force first to purchase aircraft.  The Army should not be blocked from going to Lockheed directly to purchase more C-130s, much less some A-10s.

The problem lies in the law that separated what became the USAF from the USA. My understanding is that the law severely limits what kinds of fixed wing aircraft the Army can own/operate.