The United States Air Force is deeply committed to divesting itself from the A-10 Warthog program. Once the final A-10s are retired by the end of Fiscal Year (FY) 2028, the Air Force will have a great limit on its close-air support (CAS) mission capabilities. Rather than a direct replacement for the A-10, the Air Force believes it can have the F-35A Lightning II fifth-generation warplane along with the propeller-driven, single-engine A-29 Tuscano. But these birds, while effective, lack the muscle to be true CAS fighters.

And that’s a problem. Contrary to what the Pentagon thinks, we seem destined for fighting yet another major conflict soon. Sadly, such a conflict will mean that our ground forces are in grave danger from enemy attacks. A dedicated CAS warplane, such as the A-10, will be critical for ensuring the survival of U.S. servicemen and women in combat. 

The Great Thing About the A-10

The reason that the A-10 is such a great bird is because of its heavy armor coupled with its unparalleled ability to rain down death and destruction for a protracted period, at incredibly close ranges, when the enemy is infused within and among the lines of friendly forces. 

Take all these factors into consideration and pair them with the fact that the A-10 can essentially loiter over a contested battlespace for as long as needed, all while taking a pounding from the enemies below, means that finding a replacement for the A-10 will be difficult even under the best of circumstances.

We’re not in the best of circumstances. 

When it comes to supporting ground forces in combat, the A-10 is almost unmatched. Sure, the A-29 Tucano can loiter and drop massive munitions as much as the A-10 can. The F-35 is more advanced than either of these birds and can annihilate multiple targets from far away. Although, the F-35 lacks the stamina that the A-10 possesses. None of these planes has the GAU-8/A Gatling Gun. It has been reported that the mere sound of the Gatling Gun—the infamous “Brrrrrt”—is enough to demoralize the enemy. 

God help them if they choose to continue fighting and become targets of the powerful GAU-8/A gun.

The A-10 is Not That Old…

To be clear, the A-10 is an older plane. But it is by no means the oldest plane in the Air Force’s arsenal. Indeed, one of the oldest and most iconic birds in the Air Force arsenal is the B-52 Stratofortress which first flew when Harry S. Truman was president! 

Yet, the Air Force has paid for multiple upgrades across multiple variants of the ancient bird. The A-10 came online in the 1970s and has repeatedly proven its worth across multiple conflicts the United States has fought. 

In the Air Force’s defense, the air branch has paid for multiple upgrades to the A-10 over the years. The most recent one was for the A-10C variant. That model of the A-10 integrates advanced avionics, improved GPS capabilities, and enhanced communication systems to make the warplane more effective above contemporary battlefields, where jamming is endemic. 

Nevertheless, we are told by the Air Force brass that the A-10s are increasingly obsolete today and that the F-35 and A-29 can do the job.

No, they cannot. 

They lack the perfect combination of armor, endurance, and firepower that the A-10s have always enjoyed. Can other planes perform CAS roles? 

Yes. 

Will they perform it as effectively or iconically as the A-10 has? 

No. And that’s a real shame. 

Brandon J. Weichert, a National Interest national security analyst, is a former Congressional staffer and geopolitical analyst who is a contributor at The Washington Times, the Asia Times, and The-Pipeline. He is the author of Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His next book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine, is available for purchase wherever books are sold. Weichert can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.

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