The Devastating New A-10 Bomb Truck Configuration

[@ADAPTATION7]

If longevity in itself is a sign of success, then the A-10 has surpassed that milestone a long time ago.

[@dianapennepacker6854]

Just make a new CAS (A) already. I love it with all my heart, but the airframes are getting old. Edit- I know the airforce complains about the maintenence costs to fix them. Make a new one that is cheap, reliable, long loitering times, and can give the enemy hell. Call it the Razorback. I'm sure we can do better. Especially in the maintenance and cost per flight hour.

[@Benson_aka_devils_advocate_88]

Yes and no. It has worked amazingly well in the AO with little to no ground to air defenses. Our current method of using it would see it shredded by modern manpads. Forcing it to stay low would limit the effectiveness of it's gun, but it would be doable. It'll just take a complete rethink of when and how to send in close air support. Luckily/unluckily we are getting a real world working exam on what can and can't work.

[@snowcat9308]

@@dianapennepacker6854 *cough* F35 *cough*

[@dianapennepacker6854]

@@snowcat9308 Was that sarcasm? Not enough loiter time and CAS should be a rugged cheap to use. They are working on a new type of engine that has way higher efficiency. Think it is called the RDE. Rotating detonating engine.

[@shadovanish7435]

@@dianapennepacker6854 The ANG base I was assigned to had the A-10. I had the opportunity to watch the A-10's perform strafing runs at a gunnery range located near the ANG base. The A-10's assigned to the base had black wart hog outlines painted on the noses of the aircraft, with large painted "tusks", which I thought was one of coolest images for a military aircraft, & ideal for the A-10. The wort hog looks very similar to the University of Arkansas college teams mascot, the Razorback hog, & the home football stadium was about 60 miles north of the ANG base. The A-10's at the base were part of the "Razorback" squadron.

[@edwardpedley8813]

Living in Tucson I see these awesome aircraft flying almost every day. With their very distinctive sound you don't need to look up to know what aircraft is above you. I have been watching them for about 40 years and still think they are as cool now as they were when first introduced. With the many upgrades these aircraft are so much more lethal than the "A" models. Pity the fool on the receiving end of this bad ass.

[@sixfiveoutfitters1201]

Was vacationing in Tucson one year and went golfing. Was surprised and delighted to see A-10s flying over the golf course!

[@sheilaolfieway1885]

So i have to ask if the army loves them so much, rightfully so. And the airforce does not, why can't the Army fly them?

[@edwardpedley8813]

@@sheilaolfieway1885 Have you ever heard of any of the branches of our armed services getting along? None of them want the other stepping in to their area of responsibility. Kind of a turf war. Not only that but factor in budgets and maybe the Army can't afford them or would rather the Air Force bear the burden of cost. Could be many other reasons.

[@sheilaolfieway1885]

@@edwardpedley8813 yet the navy has planes as well.... Also if i recall correctly the airforce use to be a part of the army during WWII so...

[@edwardpedley8813]

@@sheilaolfieway1885 Yes, the Navy does indeed have aircraft. During WW2 the Air Force did not exist, it was the US Army Air Force. Officially the US Air Force was formed in 1947.

[@Evl_1]

Saw the A-10 at an Airshow in 1983 and been in love with it every since. My Favorite Airframe. F-22 is next followed by C-130.

[@rg20322]

Two A-10's buzzed at around 1000 feet from where I use to live in NH and a residential neighborhood - when you're not expecting it then it scares the you know what out of you!

[@Evl_1]

@@rg20322 lol They are truly beautiful. If I had a wish I would be to ride in an A-10. To bad they are a one seater lol. I have rode in a C-130 and sat in the tailgate. So I guess 1 of my 3 favorites will have to do lol.

[@michaelhowell2541]

Grunts will tell you they absolutely love the "Hog"! Pilots say the same! Toughest bird ever built. Seen em with HUNDREDS of holes bring off the mission and get the pilot home! 👍🇺🇸

[@Yaz-pn9py]

It is a platform that can never be retired.

[@BungieStudios]

Nah, Air Jockeys hate them and want them retired. Outdated pieces of crap that have multiple friendly fire accidents and probably would have been shredded by Soviet anti-air.

[@Yaz-pn9py]

@@BungieStudios you think it’s not needed unti it is needed.

[@BungieStudios]

@@Yaz-pn9py You think it's needed until your allies ban it from operating.

[@jamestrebillcock4718]

Yeah a plane where you have to look at what you're shooting with binoculars haha the English used to hate being shot by them

[@strider6425]

The USAF can keep saying they want to replace the ‘Hog but we all know this plane is as irreplaceable as it is wanted. Keep this important beast flying!

[@richardanderson6874]

If the Air Force keeps trying to cripple or kill the A-10, let the Army and Marines get them.

[@unwavering_sightseer7818]

I would pay more taxes to keep their budget up for these excellent planes.

[@nunyabusiness8538]

A-10 mains when people tell them it’s not a multirole fighter

[@krissfemmpaws1029]

I laughed back when the USAF said the F-35 could and would be replacing the A-10... here we are years later and the A-10 hasn't been replaced by anything looking like F-35. A-10 pilots go where no F-35 will go... because they know their A-10 will bring them home.

[@ni9274]

@@unwavering_sightseer7818 stop saying this plain is excellent only cause he looks cool. This is an antiquity only working against terrorist without air-defense.

[@michaelbaka4777]

Just about any place, time, weather, or mission, this is the most BEAUTIFUL aircraft the military ever had built!! Sure, it's ugly from a sleekness standpoint and won't go supersonic, but if my butt needed close air support, THIS is the machine I'm praying will show up!!! Fer gosh sakes, they built an airplane around a GUN!! LOVE me some A-10 Warthog!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks Dark, you came through again!

[@CyberSQUID9000]

Good to see the A-10 getting some love. I expect we'll see engine and control surface updates as well as more enhanced weapons

[@Shad0wBoxxer]

Cant enhance the gun. Just the ammo

[@flixri726]

We will not. The A-10 is just barely making it through each budget. It does not have any special capability that other platforms can’t provide, besides maybe the GAU, which can’t really penetrate modern tanks frontally and which almost never been used for that purpose. It might be a good CAS Plattform if you plan to fight against some farmers in a 3rd world country, in any peer to peer conflict it performs badly and would be eaten by manpads, as long as it’s below 12000 ft. If it flys over 12000 feet it would become a target for SA-8, SA-15 etc and would be also vulnerable to fighters which could see its huge RCS from 100miles.

[@mamarussellthepie3995]

@@Shad0wBoxxer uh No Lol

[@Shad0wBoxxer]

@@mamarussellthepie3995 uh explain or be dismissed.

[@mamarussellthepie3995]

Lmao get real "Cant enhance the gun" smh Shit like that can be upgraded, modified, or even raplaced with more powerful technology If that werent true we would still be using muskets and swords xd Dont be so narrow minded lol :)

[@tosh2012]

A10 Warthog. The gift that keeps on giving.

[@metalmilitia1o740]

Interesting tidbit of info. Fairchild Aviation purchased Republic in 1965. Republic being the company that designed the P-47 Thunderbolt. Which in itself was a beast of an aircraft. During the design process of the A-10 in the early 70s. The now Fairchild-Republic company called upon one of the most effective ground attack pilots in history, Hans-Ulrich Rudel. They questioned Rudel about his experiences in WW2 flying JU-87 Stukas on the eastern front against the Russians. Rudel spoke of his experiances flying the Stuka G models equipped with the Bordkanone 37 mm cannons mounted on each wing. He explained that while the Stuka was an effective aircraft his performance was limited to the amount of ammo he could carry and more importantly dealing with the convergence of the twin 37mm cannons from the wings. His suggestion was straightforward and to the point. A large caliber weapon mounted on the centerline of the aircraft. Effectively making the aircraft a simple point and shoot weapons platform. Hence the almighty "BRRRRT" was born.

[@trevorsmith5907]

Freaking awesome 👏 Im so glad they chose to keep the A-10 around

[@farkyltheguy136]

I heard that the army was gonna buy them if the Air force got rid of them.

[@trevorsmith5907]

@@farkyltheguy136 which would be a smart move!! They could probably get more use out of them anyway!

[@USS_Grey_Ghost]

It’s cheap it’s easy to repair and it’s effective why not keep it

[@USS_Grey_Ghost]

@@trevorsmith5907 Small problem the Army isn’t allowed to use fixed wing aircraft

[@trevorsmith5907]

And the sound of the BRRTTTT from that cannon is such a moral booster to ground troops. And kind of like psychological warfare at the same time lol.

[@NavigatEric]

June 1990 at Fort Indiantown Gap, just a few months before Gulf War #1 started, we were sitting on a hill chewing our MRE's and suddenly an A10 did a barrel roll, just 100 feet above the trees, up over the ridge line and dove down into the valley and fired on some targets. The canon burst lasted 2 seconds and the entire area around the targets was just smoking. Damn we make some good pilots...

[@wildcoastadventures7535]

As an ex Infantry man from another Continent, I want to tell you Yanks that that plane is an Angel from Heaven. Thank God for Trump refusing to retire these Saviours in the Sky.

[@jamestiberiuskirk5994]

Worked on them from 82-86 at RAF Bentwaters and will always remain my favorite.

[@johnniewalker8410]

I love the A10. King of uncontested airspace

[@JonathanHallOverAllen]

The school I went to in Reeves, LA was a practice target for these birds out of England AFB in Alexandria, LA. They flew over my Dad's house when I was a kid. My childhood was all about jets and aviation. I saw the first Top Gun back then too.

[@j4s0n39]

The A-10 has been able to carry triple ejector racks for 500 lb. bombs (and 500 lb. mavericks) for years. This would just be the first time it could carry four bombs per rack. Also, the A-10 C wiring only supports GPS guided bombs on hardpoints 4, 5, 7, & 8, so it can only carry 16 of these.

[@mamarussellthepie3995]

"Only" For now

[@xyz-hj6ul]

Depending on mission weight, the A-10 has a 5-10,000fpm climb rate. An A-10 flying up to release its SDB could easily be struck, multiple times, at any practical standoff engagement range, by Buk, Vityaz or Triumf heavy SAMs. The GBU-39 was tested by the Mountain Home and Lakenheath F-15E wings in Afghanistan and Iraq and found to be deficient in having a 300 knot speed as soon as the wings deployed and no datalink for TOF/aimpoint update. Prolonged time of flight being the enemy of precision, rapid, CAS for fluid ground situations. GBU-39 was intended for use in 'blind bombing', through weather as part of the MMTD effort to give UCAVs and other SEAD assets an alternative hard kill to constellation jamming. But, absent successful integration of the ASQ-236 Dragon Eye pod, the A-10 cannot bomb through weather and if dropping from below the clouds, to use it's long range Sniper pod, a glide bomb will only fly 5-6 miles downrange which places the jet in danger from Tor, Tunguska and Pantsyr TACSAM and potentially (siting deployment) Man Portables. The missile which the A-10 needs, and which doesn't do the F-35 any good, is the Brimstone, by BAe systems. With a 20km standoff, out of the box, from low level, a GPS navigator as terrain seeker search restrictor and HOBS enabler and dual mode SAL/MMW seeker, it is rail launched and thus useless to an internal bay carriage platform. However; it would give the A-10 a potential twelve shot standoff capability, well matched to the AAQ-33's latest optronics package and, with the Dragon Eye, provide optimal anti-fast boat engagement for the Hormuz/Formosa straits condition, littoral fight. Popup over here, record a couple squint lines as geolocated positioning search footprints. Loft from way over there while SALing the radar seeker onto movers as needed. Use terrain or horizon to stay masked. Rinse, repeat, alternate. A flight of four has 48 engagements between them. You don't want stealth in a CAS fight. That's a national asset, high value/low density, capability. Send it deep. Let it get Air Dominance. Let it hit bridges. Let it blow up the ammo dumps and artie batteries. Let it kill the big SAMs if it can. Keep it random and unpredictable. DO NOT employ it as a 2X GBU-12/49 'got both yer tanks covered today!' platform under (laydown SAL) conditions where it is exposed to EO threats as deadly to it as any A-10. The Brimstone and A-10 or AGM-179 and A-10 are the ideal hotdog and mustard combo for the direct fire CAS mission set. With the ASQ-236 on every fourth jet as a little SADL relish, where it's night/all weather, no-terrain orient, necessary. If you are going to keep the Hawg around, make it uniquely useful. High intensity or low.

[@mamarussellthepie3995]

@@xyz-hj6ul I could not have said it better myself The gun system is that convoy slaying meme machine we all know and love 😎

[@TheFuzzypuddle]

that's a lot of damage

[@jolujo5842]

... And the problem is??? 🤣🤣🤣

[@hippis563]

A-10 is one of the best designed planes for its role !

[@imxploring]

When you've got a proven workhorse like the A-10 in your arsenal you keep it in the game!

[@pacificfederationpeacekeep999]

" proven workhorse" well look up desert storm kill to loss ratio and friendly fire incidents

[@Demane69]

@@pacificfederationpeacekeep999 Just looked it up. Kill/death ratio looked fine to me. Friendly fire? Let's see modern numbers, as you are picking stats from over 30 years ago. I'm not sure if you've noticed, but computers have advanced by multiples of powers since then. It's also the nature of it's engagements.

[@fredjennings5312]

There is no plane that is more loved by ground troops than the A10 Warthog.

[@pacificfederationpeacekeep999]

@@Demane69 To be honest the United states hasn't seen much action against a near peer nation, and has been mostly engaged in counter insurgency operations... This means that the enemy doesn't have what we would consider modern air defence (even though we have seen that the AA capacity of the Russians was overstated). Also you are right, such incidents have decreased due to a series of updates, (laser targeting system, ecm pods ect) . However most of these systems come to all the Variants of the F-35 from day one and not ti mention how much more advanced they are , with things like sencor fusion, AESA pulse dopler radar ect. In addition i would like to mention that, yeah its expensive, but its going to replace 2+ airframes depending the branch . you might tell me ," its not as ragged and reliable as the the warthog" but you might not understand is that , every aircraft is not ragged and reliable when its beraly 10 years old , that many aircraft including the F-16 had a tough early development cycle, and the fact that the modern battlefield is much more complex than "big gun Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr ". In fact you dint need such a hardcore way of destroying enemy units. I mean that you don't need hundreds if uranium depleted rounds when a few PGMs can do just fine, especially the GBU-53 stormbreaker. Also we are currently experiencing ab era where there is a massive swift in military technology... As Stealth has become more of a factor than ever. This is what we know as the "dreadnought effect" meaning that when a groundbreaking new piece of technology is introduced some of the already established knowledge, no longer applies . In conclusion i want to tell you that the cost of keeping an A-10C in the air is up and down fhe same cost of manufacturing a brand new F-35. also remember that i don't have any beef with you, and its all an expression of ideas , i would like to know what you think

[@dianapennepacker6854]

No we need a new craft. It's expensive to maintain and upgrade them. Yet I'm all for running it till the last plane has to retire it. Look up the video Sandboxx has on creating an arsenal ship. Crazy how much it can carry. My favorite jet. Sadly the gun can be replaced.

[@nzs316]

I’m ex Air Force not American and this aircraft has got to be one of the bad asses of all time. What the ground troops must feel when they see the A10 showing up to kick ass.

[@sharkbait5402]

A10=A+ A10 Pilots=A+++ They are godly when it comes to situational awareness.

[@The_Lone_Wolf]

I've always been a big fan of the A-10 series Warthog, especially when hearing how they managed to fly home with loss of hydraulics and missing wing and tail pieces, the A-10 is in essence an armored bathtub of an aircraft, that can withstand high amounts of damage and still make it back to base. The A-10 is King of close air support and will be king of this new itineration of upgrades.

[@The_Lone_Wolf]

@William Henry yes it is and that's why she is such a beautiful aircraft

[@DeeEight]

The survivability reputation is overblown... in the first '91 gulf war, the A-10 community was suffering such a high damaged and lost aircraft rate, in spite of the coalition having total air dominance AND the most extensive SEAD campaign ever in any conflict to that point, that the air force forbid them from flying below an altitude where their gun or rocket pods were any good, and they had to rely on the Maverick missiles, which is why they launched so many of them. during the war. Even then they still managed to kill a couple dozen friendly troops with those in that releatively short war because the planes lacked any sort of sighting system besides a basic gun sight, to identify targets on the ground at a distance properly...and in spite of the allied ground vehicles all having the same identification panel system visible from above, A-10s on three seperate occassions attacked USMC Lav25s and Biritish Warrior IFVs. As I recall from the investigation report that was released to the press, the A-10 pilots thought the square yellow panels were "missile launchers" and literally as the "they're coming right as us..." joke in South Park with the two hunters... they fired on the friendly targets.

[@MRsolidcolor]

a warrior like this should die on the battle field. WW3 gonna be crazy.

[@Cythil]

@@DeeEight I agree. It is a pretty survivable, for being an aircraft. But it far from invulnerable. You do not want to fly in to AA or have to deal with fighters in your airspace. People hear about that titanium bathtub and think is flying tank. But the rest of the plane is not that armoured. And even in a dogfight you can attack it from above and potentially kill that pilot. I still really like the weapons platform. If used in the right sort of situation it is potent. Else it would not have been around for so long when so many other excellent weapons platforms have tried to replace it. It can carry a lot of weapons and while it GAU-8 is a nasty gun it to get a bit of an overblown reputation. But I like it.

[@jimgauth]

It fills a niche nothing else can or probably ever will replace.

[@coolhandluke5076]

If you’ve only seen up close what kind of damage they can sustain, remain in flight and return to base is unmatched.

[@leakybagofmeat8734]

I've seen it.

[@billjamison2877]

The A-10 is a remarkable platform capable of rendering complete and utter destruction to the enemy . Probably one of the best pieces of equipment in the US arsenal and the Ground-pounder's best friend!

[@williambarrett70]

With the latest news from the Mideast, we should send a few of these to the Israelis.

[@johntaylor-lo8qx]

This is exactly what we should do with a legendary plane pilots, and troops on the ground love so much !!!!

[@longshot398]

Those of us who fight on the ground know the importance of the Warthog. Next to Naval Aviators the Warthog are the best at what they do.

[@DOGMA1138]

Blue on Blue?

[@mitchverr9330]

"best at what they do" to the point that they got removed from sectors/a whole theatre for friendly fire.

[@Ipwnboobz]

talkin bout shooting friendlies?

[@Inspadave]

Indeed. Hog drivers are great at friendly fire. They also do well getting shot down by MANPADS.

[@GERRYMALONEY47]

This channel is one of the coolest on KZbin and definitely deserved my subscription tonight

[@justdoingitjim7095]

Of all the aircraft available today, the A-10 is my favorite. Of course you'd expect a Marine to say that! Ooh RA, get ya some!

[@OH8STN]

Excellent episode! I still don't know how I feel about the music but it did fit the episode. Thanks for sharing.

[@ThomasLee123]

Good quality content without Click Bait and English problems that are so prevalent on You Tube these days! Congrats!

[@chrissmith7655]

Excellent video, many thanks.

[@bc-guy852]

GO GET 'EM Bomb Truck!! Truly one of the most valuable assets the US Military has ever known; almost 50 years old! One of The-Most-Welcome-Sounds many soldiers have ever heard. Coming to you soon orc.

[@dgoddard]

Coolest plane to ever fly over a warzone.

[@mountainlion2808]

Nothing makes you feel better than having one of these circling overhead.

[@TheRaedwolf]

Kick ass aircraft! my all time favorite. Definitely my choice in close combat.

[@E-Brightvoid]

General Electric: We built an electrically fired machine gun as big as a car! Airforce: Let’s build a plane around it lol

[@jamesleadley7872]

AFW: We built this massive Laser bigger than a Semi Trailer!!! Airforce: Stick it in a 747

[@ThomasLee123]

Success!!😀

[@ThomasLee123]

@@jamesleadley7872 That was way back in time, The latest laser weapons will fit in an F-35!

[@redrum707monkey]

let's tell the Airforce they can retire the A-10, then after they hand em all over give em to the Army

[@opticalcanine]

Uhh what? Pictures of a10s running around with full bomb loads on multiple pylons have been around since the 90s...

[@robertmosher7418]

I remember the first time I saw two Warthogs working together in training in the Yakama Desert at the YTC which is a part Ft Lewis in Washington state. Big beautiful birds and just amazing. In Iraq we had Apache and Kiawa support due to it being so urban. But I am sure they would have been there had Iran become involved or something.

[@devincorns409]

Haha yessir! I know what you’re talking about, I’m in Tacoma,WA

[@rmp5s]

Yea man...they're epic. I was in Indiana on a training op...was in a big warehouse talking to someone when all of a sudden it sounded like someone was on the roof, dragging a giant desk around or something. I asked gunny, "WTF was that?" "The A-10s." I was out the door faster than you could say, "I'm all about that BRRRRRRT"!! And, yup! Right in front of me, there were a couple 10s doing training runs, HAMMERING some old vic. It was glorious. Best fixed wing CAS platform ever created. Hands down.

[@grahamparsons1070]

How can you not love this thing. I know F all about military or Fighter jet’s other than watching heaps of videos on them (lots of time watching the dark series and also Ward Carrol). The A10 just ticks every box for it’s capabilities, serviceability, survival and deadliness. I would even say character. Colossal machine! Nice video 👌

[@AMXSShirt]

Proudly worked maintenance on them for 7 yrs.

[@wcresponder]

So this plane is now basically the equivalent of a special forces operator.

[@jamesyoung1022]

The A10 has proven itself to be one of the best military aircraft ever built.

[@flixri726]

It simply hasn’t. If you count Meme-Value, yes it’s at the front but if you look at its loss rates it’s really the worst performance of any USAF plane since Vietnam.

[@jamesyoung1022]

@@flixri726 Stop willfully spreading lies! The A-10 force, flying more than 8,000 combat sorties, suffered only five A-10s destroyed (a loss rate of . 062 percent). Twenty of these aircraft returned with significant battle damage, and forty-five others returned with light damage that was repaired between sorties. Apparently, you believe people are too lazy to fact-check your bullshit claims. Not so, today. Facts are merely a few keyboard clicks away.

[@flixri726]

@@jamesyoung1022 thanks for quoting a 1993 article written by an A-10 Pilot. Yeah, the A-10 had „only“ 5 destroyed - but that’s the highest count of lost Aircraft of the same type of all coalition forces in this particular war, second is the harrier btw. „Only 5“ sounds likes it’s a few, but it’s the only type that loss 5 airframes in the whole conflict on the coalition side, so it had the worst performance if we look at only the loss ratios. The amount of badly damaged planes also shows, that the whole concept does not work in a p2p war, since such damage rates simply aren’t sustainable. And this was just against the iraq in the early 90s, today where almost every platoon has a manpad and also sensor fuzed munitions in APCs are becoming common the whole picture for the A-10 is even worse. I did my research other than you who just quotes a airforcemag article from almost 30 years word by word.

[@jamesyoung1022]

@@flixri726 You have not shown a bad picture for the A10. You have simply asserted it.

[@flixri726]

@@jamesyoung1022 no, you misinterpreted loss rates based on an opinion piece written by an A-10 pilot :D 5 losses is still the worse performance of all coalition planes.

[@Mobius118]

“… the A-10’s LiMiTeD bomb capacity” 😂😂

[@ThomasLee123]

Not the latest version which is a bomb truck!

[@FranktheDachshund]

I love how the A10 usually has some dents, rubbed off paint, an overall "old bull of the woods" look.

[@avleussolace2871]

This Known and calming voice + Military stories, etc is absolutely perfect. Don't get me wrong on Known voice, its meant in a good way, its amazing.

[@828enigma6]

Eight years later and there is still not an acceptable replacement even in sight. Also, A10's are currently equipped with two Sidewinder missiles for self defense. The pilots are trained in dogfighting but encouraged to not engage enemy fighters if possible.

[@F0NZY1]

"Encouraged" XD

[@jamesleadley7872]

No replacement insight because flying low and slow isn't good for your health...doesn't matter what you fly.

[@GeertDelmulle]

@@jamesleadley7872 When given the choice in a low and slow scenario: the A10 is your best option - bar none. The rest doesn’t even come close.

[@fleafrier1]

I think the A-10 would be toast in contested airspace. Any radar guided missile can get them from well out of range of a sidewinder. It would make no sense for a Mig or Su pilot to engage in a turning fight with an A-10.

[@verdebusterAP]

In real dogfight, they would get their asses handed to them The USAF plan to replace the A-10 with the F-16 is very much acceptable but Congress is too hard headed

[@jeffallen3382]

How do you do a video on the A10 Warthog and NOT show the awesome sound of the gun going Brrrrt!?

[@tiggalong227]

The A-10 stands as one of the best examples of aircraft design done right

[@flixri726]

Not really if you check the numbers. The highest loss rate of all USAF Platforms and also famous for its high rate for blue on blue. In the golf wars it performed badly. Yeah, it’s good against some taliban but arguably a super tucano can do the same role for a much lower cost per hour and in any conflict against Russia or china it would be eaten by manpads, as soon as it hits the frontline.

[@mr_beezlebub3985]

@@flixri726 Can't blame it for doing poorly in the Golf War. I can't name many people who are good at Golf.

[@ADB-zf5zr]

@@mr_beezlebub3985 :D :D :D

[@MiddleIrvington]

I love the F-22, F-15, F-16, F-111, but, most of all, I love the A-10 due to its durability, versatility, firepower, protective mission and, it's undeserved underdog status!

[@asn413]

I recall an earlier aircraft sometimes called "the flying dump truck" for the same reason. it carried 2x its own weight in stores (?) and served in both the USN and USAF. Its design and purposes are no doubt reflected in this fine aircraft. the earler had only one principal fault: there weren't enough built. I hope they'll learn from that too. this design is worthy of having production started again.

[@jetsetter8541]

And 10 is very practical life saving for ground slulgiers superb machine.

[@skipperclinton1087]

asn, that would be the A-1 Skyraider or 'Spad' if you will!

[@TraderDan58]

@@skipperclinton1087 you beat me to it. I too was going to let the OP know he was remembering the A-1 Skyraider.

[@skipperclinton1087]

@@TraderDan58 Dan I've seen them up close getting ready for a strike package against N. VN from the Midway in '65 with ordinance from wing tip to wing tip consisting of 1k/500lbs bombs & rockets. Pilot sitting in the cockpit with oil streaming down the R side cowling. Very Very impressive! I went through SEAR school with some A-10 pilots and jet jocks and the always made fun of them but when it came to Sandy missions they didn't laugh!

[@bobcranston3414]

@@skipperclinton1087 SERE school

[@juliancrooks3031]

The Air force would be foolish to retire this plane. It's the most bad ass plane ever built. They just need to build new ones with state of the art weapons.

[@combatdoc]

When I was stationed at Myrtle Beach AFB in 1986, they were talking about retiring it for the A-4. Every few years the AF tries to retire it for a new toy.

[@metaglypto]

I predict the A-10 will continue with our military in one form or another, for at least the next 20 years. I think it would serve well as a Forward Air Control vehicle, not to mention a plane to backup the F-35's, once the radar has been taken out.

[@jackwalker9492]

LOL, I predict that you have no idea what you are talking about and never spent a day in the military.

[@metaglypto]

@@jackwalker9492 I could show you my dd-214, but you don't know what that is, or how to understand it.

[@jackwalker9492]

@@metaglypto 27 yrs 11B. 8AD/19NG If you were in, I apologize for the tone, but your comments are so far detached from reality, you should reconsider.

[@metaglypto]

@@jackwalker9492 ...and probably a leg at that. Your opinions of my assessment of the future of the A-10, are exactly that. Opinion. Opinion not based in fact, but based on the few words I typed. Rather a shallow basis for attacking someone. You sound like a punk teenager, not a seasoned infantryman.

[@faelwolf1177]

I don't know about 20 more years, at least without a major refurbishment program. There's a lot of metal fatigue in the main airframes at this point, not to mention some with more than a few patched bullet holes.... :) But you might be interested in the new program they are working on to not only refurbish, but also make the A-10C an even better FAC, and give it loads of decoys to help confuse SAMs ahead of air strikes by faster jets. Whether they will refurbish to the point of adding another 20 years to it's service life, I haven't heard any information on that. (But it's not like the head of the ASC invites me to lunch)

[@apeshitcrazyman]

Great videos! Love this channel!

[@oneshotme]

Love this plane Enjoyed your video and so I gave it a Thumbs Up

[@andyrbush]

The Warthog has found a place in people's hearts.

[@brianfalls5038]

Back in the early 80's I got assigned to my A-10A model aircraft. Tail number 76-722. Working on that plane for the 2 years that I did was the best 2 years of my entire Air Force career. It's a fantastic plane!!!

[@DashPar]

Force Generals to the front lines and you will see them begging for the A10!! They won’t even think about retirement of this awesome aircraft!

[@arnoldsherrill2585]

Brings new meaning to the phrase Here Comes the Boom., and you never even see it coming., all you hear is the sound of Wylie Coyote falling off a cliff, right before the payload hits the target and a bright flash add a couple of air-to-air sidewinders and you now have an aircraft with a downright scary mix of lethal Talent. No wonder the troops on the ground and the pilots who fly this Beast went berserk when Congress first proposed retiring it

[@TonyA552]

During the Vietnam war one of the nicknames given to the A-6 Intruder was "The Dump-truck of Death". Nice to see that the A-10 is finally catching up.

[@jamesleadley7872]

Rumors that the US is considering sending some Warthogs to Ukraine...but I can't imagine giving them that kind of firepower platform. It would be one hell of a way to test how a 'near pier' competitor tried to handle the Warthog and if they were worth replacing in a similar configuration. The SDB addition is extremely helpful for a low flying plane because it can avoid most of it's danger by not even flying over the target and launching 100 km+ away. SDB2 hits moving targets from almost 50 kms away as well.

[@zoopdterdoobdter5743]

Theoretically awesome, but there're a lot of AA systems in theater. A-10 is a permissive environment bird. Still though, the *Brrrrrrt* would doubtless be a moral booster.

[@gpaull2]

I highly doubt your rumour source. Warthogs go in after air superiority has been established. They’d be destroyed in Ukrainian…especially with unfamiliar pilots flying them.

[@jamesleadley7872]

@@gpaull2 Ukraine has been using 'flying guerrilla' tactics with their own SU25's and surviving...they might be able to do something similar with the A10's once trained. I doubt it as well but the frame's are old and the usefulness is questionable...why not throw them in and find out?

[@richardanderson6874]

Stuka pilot ace Hans Ulrich Rudel was consulted before the A-10 was built, and he was of the opinion after being made, that they should have made them a bit slower to better aim.

[@adisander]

Ukraine best as I can tell doesn't want it. The airspace is unsuited to its use (MANPADS don't care much about flying low, and even if an A10 can limp back it's probably a write-off regardless), it would take quite a bit of training for both pilots and mechanics, and the logistics requirements aren't exactly ideal either. If you want to hit a target from 100+ km away... that's already possible with what they have. No need to burden them with a flying target for a role they can already fill.

[@adrianhenle]

It's pretty funny seeing any part of this aircraft labeled "FRAGILE - DO NOT IMPACT"

[@kdrapertrucker]

Never heard of the A-10s bomb carrying capacity criticized before.

[@ToMang07]

Gotta love the Warthog... but talk to the troops who fought under it if you really want to know why it's loved!

[@lukeragg1643]

The A-10 should be more seriously considered by the Congress beancounters as one of the most important aircraft it has. No other aircraft in the inventory can match it in the ground support role, including its own "survivability" & sheer toughness. F35's can't do "low & slow" or take a round in its side, keep on station & fulfil its purpose, keeping ground forces covered & safe.

[@mikestrickler4299]

Nasty, just nasty and glad it on our side!

[@tigersharkzh]

That 50-mile range is for when the SDB is released at high altitude. 50'000 ft high, that's well above the service ceiling of the A-10.

[@TinMan0555]

Yeah, and your point is? I think that mention was to show the versatility of that ordinance, not to dis the A10.

[@Mr_Fission]

The only thing all Americans can agree on is how freaking awesome the A-10 is. Edit: Damn, fat Airmen, step your game up. Coming from a former, fat Airman.

[@NikonPhotoHawk]

She’s a deadly weapon made even deadlier. And no, the F-35 can’t not replace her.

[@SeanPwnery]

Take two parts Volksjager (engine layout x2 and basic shape), and 1 part IL-2 (flying tank), and 1 part GAU-8 and the "Greatest hits" Thunderbolt II survives the test of time for nearly 60 years when it's all said and done. Pretty amazing.

[@Steve_Hayden]

Here's a funny joke ..... During a Senate hearing, the Air Force tried to just retiring the A-10. A senator asked how are you going to replace what the A-10 does for the grunts on the ground? .... (here's the joke) ..... The Air Force replied , they were going to use the F35 ($189 million per plane) to do what the A10 ($13.3m) did. One bullet hole in a f35 could destroy its stealth ability. An A10 can loiter for over an hour protecting ground troops.

[@philiplewis8213]

The people commenting that the A-10 could not fight against a true fighter are missing that it does not operate alone. There will always be F-16, F-18, F-35 etc on overwatch taking care of air superiority. Those sidewinders are also good for enemy helicopters. If they need to defend vs a Mig, the battle is already going poorly.

[@cuttheloop]

One circle an A-10... go ahead.

[@richardwalling9695]

My first PCS was with the Fightin 40th TFS at Eglin.

[@jeffjankiewicz5100]

Best damn plane we have imo. Ground troops love and rely on it.

[@genebryant3333]

It still amazes me that Air Force brass hates it... If they don't want to do C.A.S. give these birds to the Army and Marines.

[@Yaz-pn9py]

Agreed, both would find a place for them.

[@TraderDan58]

The SDB bombs are a game changer. Winglets for added range after drop and super accurate. A-10 was already a super stud aircraft. Now it’s playing the game in God Mode

[@Egodriver71]

A-10 has always been able to carry multiple Mk82 500lb bombs on a TER on the inboard and fuselage pylons as well as a triple rack of AGM-65 Maverick missiles

[@davidfisher12865]

Hope they hang onto, and keep upgrading, in a near peer conflict, it would be nice to see them in their original role, dusting armoured columns.

[@Inspadave]

The idea of a bunch of hogs dusting an armoured column is hilarious.

[@ThomasLee123]

@@Inspadave Dusting with radioactive bullets!

[@ferrosjewellers4558]

Not many combat planes scare me..but this A10..mmm..it's definitely a formidable opponent.

[@dougstitt1652]

they need to make more without screwing up just update what needs to be , to me they seem to be some of the best bang for there buck the Government has bought . That Gun O my

[@thewatcher8345]

This is my favorite fighter plane, the versatility makes it the most dangerous fighter ever it can stand up to almost every scenario ...my opinion

[@cjespers]

Thanks for the video! The A10 is awesome!

[@jolujo5842]

Best all around assault airplane of the century 👌👍😊

[@daniellanglois9973]

A-10 will be in service as long as the B-52

[@fernandofrias6535]

And they wanted to replace it with the f35. This is one plane that will hard to replace.

[@hindsight2022]

Have you seen the new copperhead version . All black stealth paint . Looks like a snake too . Its siiiiiiick

[@kwhp1507]

When you think about these “older” aircraft and you realize there has probably been 10 or more generations of pilots to fly some of these aircraft systems and stay in service. So they are built better than the men and women that fly them.

[@jimparsons6803]

Impressive hardware.

[@KillersFromTheWest]

Can we all just take a moment to appreciate everything the A-10 has ever done for ground troops? The most beautiful thing on the battlefield. BRRRRT out

[@DOI_ARTS]

Sometime ago they tried to retire the A10 with F35s, I laugh my ass out.

[@cptrestlesssteven6469]

It's the only aircraft in the world that the default setting on voice warning for terrain is set to mute!!!! Lol

[@terrified057t4]

Honestly just wanna see the the Thunderbolt III.

[@JamesLaserpimpWalsh]

Armoured bomb truck is better than unarmoured. Its just good brain thinkin' doing that. Well done America. You can make good war stuff. Better than anyone really.

[@tracyrreed]

3:46 Its ceiling rises to a thousand feet? 1.5 mile visibility? What does any of this mean?

[@loyddussaultsr4181]

It's still one bad ass killing machine hail to the mighty worthog

[@clawshrimp]

Still my favourite combat aircraft.

[@infeedel7706]

Excuse me, but the A-10 was listed as having a 16,000 lb slung capacity when I was a boy. How in hell could one ever consider a single seat plane with nearly four times the bomb load of the B-17's 4,800 lb as "limited"?

[@infeedel7706]

I also find it really hard to understand how anyone could think this aircraft can be replaced by anything short of a UAP.

[@rainmetal]

As a kid I used to collect micro machines and I used to have the 810 micro machine it was my favorite long live they-10 rain hell from above

[@Noisy_Cricket]

They should just "Super Hornet" the A10 and make a new version with all the same concepts and call it the "A10 Super Warthog" (hardly anybody calls it the Thunderbolt, so just drop that). If they replace the gun with a radar (and allow it to carry radar based missiles), it can be used as an anti-drone or helicopter platform too. A smaller gun for anti-personnel or lightly armored vehicles can be fitted to a removable gun pod if necessary. There's probably alot of other stuff the AF can do too, but they don't want to because the Air Force views the A10 as a waste for some reason.

[@JohnDoe-ml8ru]

Aaaa... It could originally carry 16,000lbs of bombs and ordinance. That's way more than it needs to and way more than it's engines can provide thrust for. The Achilles Heel of the A-10 was never how much it can carry, but it's underpowered engines.

[@zinjanthropus322]

Get rid of the GAU then pack it full.

[@JohnDoe-ml8ru]

@@zinjanthropus322 0.o Huh? The plane was built around it's gun. It's the whole point to the aircraft. The engines were supposed to have been upgraded years ago. They just havent done it yet.

[@zinjanthropus322]

@@JohnDoe-ml8ru it has killed more vehicles with missiles than it has with the gun.

[@JohnDoe-ml8ru]

@@zinjanthropus322 Good for you. It's whole purpose is it's gun. If you can't get past that, idk what to tell you.

[@zinjanthropus322]

@@JohnDoe-ml8ru So you see absolutely nothing wrong with carrying a very heavy gun it won't use in its new role as bomb truck just because it's always been there?