The U.S. Air Force has finally decided to keep its popular, at least with pilots and infantry, A-10 attack aircraft. Nicknamed "Warthog" or just "hog", the A-10 never got much respect from air force leaders. The new plan reduces the A-10 force by 44 aircraft, to 237. These will equip seven squadrons.
The Air Force spent much of the decade up to this decision trying to kill the A-10.
Even updated, the A-10 will not be allowed to operate in the face of robust air defenses. Which makes sense. An odd fade for a plane built to fight low and slow in the teeth of enemy air defenses. It's a whole new air defense world out there now.
But they are still valuable planes against irregulars and insurgents.
And I think in a conventional battle the plane would be useful against advancing enemy armor that is operating beyond a robust air defense network. So it could mass 30mm anti-tank and smart bomb power where an enemy breaks through friendly lines more quickly than ground forces can get there.
The A-10 can't handle all missions, but it can handle some. And more important in my mind is that the A-10 keeps ground support as a specific Air Force mission that would not get the same attention if the mission was just one of many for multi-role F-35s.
