The Warthog Lives on
In the US Air Force Inventory there is an aircraft affectionately called the Warthog, the A-10 Fighter. It has proven itself time and time again as a worthy airframe in peacetime as well as in battlefield conditions. The Air Force just announced that it was going to upgrade all 356 of the aircraft A/0A-10. This latest upgrade will take 5 years and $168 million dollars, a testament to the fact that the Warthog continues to live on and not end up in the aircraft bone yard. The new capabilities will allow the A/0A-10 to deliver precision guided munitions called JDAM’s or Joint Direct Attack Munitions. The Warthog will also receive other upgrade to other systems to make this one lean mean fighting machine. I can tell you that as a former munitions mechanic on the A-10 it is one great aircraft to work on and from what I was told by the pilot’s, fun to fly as well. So it does my heart well to see that the Tank Killer will continue to serve our country well and be the one aircraft enemy ground forces will fear the most.
There was a period of time right after the first Gulf War that it seemed that the Warthog was destined for the history books, and the Air Force closed a number of A-10 bases including Myrtle Beach AFB and England AFB and overseas bases like Suwon AB in Korea. The aircraft were assigned to other units in the reserves and some were moved to Moody AFB and Pope AFB. The primary role was close air support for ground forces and there was even talk of turning the aircraft that remained over to the US Army. While this would have been totally appropriate, true Warthog mechanics shuddered to think of Army Emblems on these Air Force fighters. I remember going TDY or Temporary Duty to Army bases for training exercises and seeing how the US Army personnel loved to check out our A-10 aircraft. It was a unique airframe actually built around the 30MM Gatling gun. that weapon, the Gau-8 gun is the featured weapon system of the Warthog. The Army soldiers would always tell us that they were glad that we were on their side in a combat environment. It had great stand-off abilities with the guided munitions of the day like the AGM-65 and munitions payload like Mk-82 and Mk-84 bombs. The aircraft was later modified to carry the AIM-9 missile to protect it from enemy fighters. Bad ass Warthog indeed!!
The A-10 aircraft that I worked on had Tiger Teeth painted on the nose in honor of the famous Flying Tigers of WWII history, and I always thought that it made the Warthog seem even more intimidating. I can remember seeing many great patches and pictures depicting an angry Hog holding a Gatling gun and grinning from ear to ear. The good old days of the Tactical Air Command, I do miss that. So seeing the new investment in the A/0A-10 Warthog is a good thing, maybe in the current war, it will again show the bad guys the meaning of our total air power superiority. I have no doubt that when the US Air Force history is covered many years from now, the accomplishments of the current Warthog will be in there prominently and maybe they will be flying a new type of Warthog airframe, an un-manned aircraft with a big Gatling gun, you got to have the gun.
In the meantime enemies of the United States beware, if the Warthog has you in its sights, it is too late you are already toast. Live on A0/A-10 Warthog and keep our country safe.