Is the A-10 Warthog Obsolete?

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The A-10 is an iconic aircraft, but was it obsolete the day it came off the factory floor in the 1970's?

The A-10 is a special-purpose designed close-air-support aircraft that was created to destroy Russian tanks in Europe during World War III.

But was this just wishful thinking? Wouldn't all of the airfields in Europe been destroyed with nuclear weapons in the first few minutes of the war?

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has seen the destruction of nine SU-25 close air support aircraft. The SU-25 is roughly analogous to the A-10.

This could mean that the A-10 isn't survivable in a world full of Man Portable Air Defense weapons (MANPADS)?

While the role of the A-10 may be useful for COIN (Counter Insurgency), that role could be taken over by cheaper propellor-driven aircraft, drones, or a combination of the two.

The A-10 sounds like freedom, but it may be time to retire this iconic airframe.

References:

LA Times A-10 Air to Air

Cpt Bob Swain

General Charles Q Brown: Change or lose.

Air force financial management:

GDP

40 mile Convoy (Cnn)

40 mile Convoy (Reddit)

Advanced technology warfare

Hovercraft Air launch video.

Infantry Magazine Archive:

Rights:

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A-10 Over Kandahar

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