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How many A-10 Warthogs does the US military have?
Over 367 A-10 aircraft are in service with the US Air Force, Air Combat Command, the US Air Force Reserve and the Air National Guard.
Does the Air Force still use the a10 Warthog?
The Air Force hopes to keep the Warthog flying into the 2030s, and the service has invested $880 million in re-winging the fleet and modernizing its avionics, which are the electronic systems that keep the aircraft’s various functions running.
When was the A 10 built?
March 1977
Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II/Dates introduced
Why the A-10 Warthog is good?
A firm favorite with pilots, the A10 Warthog provides excellent protection for the pilot in the form of an armored tub. Affectionately referred to as the “bathtub”, weighing 1200 lbs and built from titanium sheets ranging in thickness from 13 to 38mm, capable of withstanding hits from 23mm cannon rounds.
What is the Air Force planning to do with the A-10 Warthog?
The Air Force is planning a wide range of datalink, radar, sensor, and armament upgrades to sustain the A-10 Warthog into the coming decades. The A-10 Thunderbolt II is a unique, and remarkably long-lived, war machine that continues to offer impressive combat performance despite its years.
Will the Air Force retire the Warthog in 2021?
The Warthog is showing its age in 2021 but has so far survived the Air Force’s multiple attempts to retire it. On the heels of continued resistance by Congress, the Air Force has opted to give the Warthog a further lease on life while seeking budget cuts elsewhere — as of the time of writing, mass-retirement is all but off the table.
Why is the A-10 Thunderbolt II being retired?
The U.S. Air Force has decided to indefinitely postpone the retirement of the legendary A-10 Thunderbolt II ground attack plane. The venerable Warthog’s increased role in the air campaign against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria was the Pentagon’s main reason for the postponement.
What happened to the A-10 Warthog?
The A-10 Warthog emerged from a long and contentious procurement competition involving as many as six candidates; of these, only Northrop and Fairchild Republic were tapped to submit prototype models. Northrop’s Ya-9 subsequently fell out of consideration, leaving just the Fairchild YA-10.