Editor's Note: The USAF leadership has tried hard to get rid of the A-10, good thing they were not successful

The A-10 Thunderbolt II, known as the Warthog, has once again demonstrated its enduring utility, despite repeated retirement efforts by the U.S. Air Force. Originally engineered during the Cold War to counter massed Soviet armored formations in Central Europe—primarily through its GAU-8/A 30mm Avenger cannon and AGM-65 Maverick missiles—the platform has repeatedly adapted to evolving operational demands.

In Operations Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom, and Enduring Freedom, the A-10 excelled in close air support (CAS) against conventional armor and irregular forces. Following the drawdown of those large-scale ground engagements, service leaders prioritized development and acquisition of fifth-generation fighters and advanced standoff capabilities. Yet, each time the platform faced phase-out, emerging threats revived its relevance.

The ongoing conflict in Iran—Operation Epic Fury—has provided the latest revival. Lessons from the Russia-Ukraine war highlighted the challenges of countering low-cost, massed one-way attack drones, such as the Iranian-designed Shahed series. High-performance fighters employing costly air-to-air missiles or even precision-guided munitions like the AGR-20 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) prove inefficient and resource-intensive against swarms of inexpensive unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). High-speed, low-altitude maneuvering further complicates engagements for fast jets.

The A-10's low-speed maneuverability, extended loiter time courtesy of its twin turbofan engines, airframe armor, and high sortie generation rate—make the A-10 the ideal platform. With the degradation of Iranian integrated air defense systems and fighter threats early in the campaign, air supremacy allows the Warthog to operate effectively at low altitudes without prohibitive risk from longer-range surface-to-air missiles or interceptors.

Recent operational imagery and reports indicate A-10s configured with mixed loads: AIM-9 Sidewinders for self-defense, AGM-65 Mavericks for high-explosive strikes against hardened or larger targets, APKWS rockets for cost-effective drone intercepts, and the all important 30mm cannon for engaging armored vehicles, small maritime craft, irregular militia forces suppressing civilian protests, mobile ballistic missile launchers, and other opportunistic targets. This versatility enables the aircraft to loiter, rapidly re-engage, and provide overwatch—roles that demand persistence rather than speed or stealth.

The reintroduction of the A-10 into high-intensity operations reiterates to force planners that specialized CAS platforms remain critical when our adversary employs asymmetric tactics combining drones, missiles, and ground-based threats. While the Air Force pursues modernization with platforms like the F-35 and next-generation systems, no current or near-term replacement fully replicates the Warthog's combination of payload, endurance, survivability, and affordability in low threat environments.

But for Congressional action mandating minimum inventory levels through September 2026, the A-10 would not have been an option in this conflict.

Ultimately, the A-10's presence over Iran signals we are likely in the final phases of an air campaign. As the "Swiss Army knife" of U.S. airpower, it fills capability gaps until successor weapons systems can match its effectiveness.