The United States plans to soon retire a fighter jet known for its ruggedness and powerful weapons.
The United States plans to decommission more than a hundred legendary A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft, also known as the Warthog, as early as next year. Whether Ukraine will be able to obtain these aircraft to combat Russian aggression is a question that is of great interest.
The publication FOCUS online writes about this
This was reported by the publication FlightGlobal, which reported that the withdrawal of the A-10 from the US Air Force is planned much earlier – in 2026 instead of the previously announced 2028-2029. The reason is budget savings and the reorientation of funds to new military projects. The aircraft received the nickname “Warthogs” due to their unusual appearance and high endurance.
Will Ukraine be able to use Warthogs?
Among the 162 aircraft that will remain after decommissioning, there is an option to transfer them to Ukraine. However, last year, former civilian head of the US Air Force Frank Kendall reported that Kyiv did not show much interest in these aircraft. According to him, Ukraine is rightly concerned about the technical condition of the aircraft and problems with their maintenance after export from the United States.
“The problem is that once they leave the US, there is no basic support. The country that receives the aircraft will have significant difficulties in maintaining them. Also, these are very old aircraft – they are about 45 years old – and spare parts are difficult to find,” Kendal explained to Defense One.
Features of the A-10 and whether it is suitable for the war in Ukraine
The A-10 fighter was created in 1977 to support ground forces. Its main weapon is the 30-mm GAU-8/A Avenger machine gun, capable of firing armor-piercing shells. This aircraft was developed for combating armored vehicles – destroying tanks and wheeled vehicles at low altitudes.
During the Cold War, the A-10 had a key mission: stopping the Soviet tank breakthrough into Europe. But now the battlefield has changed — in the war against Ukraine, the Kremlin is using modern drones and missiles, against which the Warthog is vulnerable, even with its own missile armament.
The A-10 can fly up to 700 km/h, making it faster than helicopters but slower and less maneuverable than modern fighters. It is inferior in air combat against Russian aircraft such as the MiG-29. Although the A-10 has historically been an effective attack aircraft, it is unlikely to be a significant boost to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Let us recall that earlier we wrote that the commander of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrsky, expressed the opinion that Ukraine needs heavy air support, in particular American attack aircraft A-10 Thunderbolt II (“Warthog”). This aircraft, although not new, has proven itself as a reliable machine for destroying tanks, artillery and other ground targets, helping the infantry in combat.
