The United States Air Force had plans to retire the A-10 Thunderbolt fighter jet, also known as the Warthog. The next generation F-35 Lightning, a multi-role stealth jet was intended to replace all tactical air-to-ground fighters ... including the A-10. A-10 supporters in Congress are now calling for a fly-off ... the A-10 Warthog vs. the F-35 Lightning. That showdown will involve scenarios where the A-10 has a proven track record ... close air support and combat search and rescue ... with unique features like the ability to loiter on battlefield, lethality and survivability. Until then, the A-10 Warthog has been granted a reprieve from early retirement. This story is a look at the unique capabilities of the A-10 as a close-support fighter jet that continues to be an active and strategically significant platform in multiple contested theaters around the world.
Producers: Mitchell Riley, Christopher Conover
Videographers: Bob Lindberg, Sandra Westdahl
Editor: Steve Bayless
AZPM is a service of the University of Arizona and our broadcast stations are licensed to the Arizona Board of Regents who hold the trademarks for Arizona Public Media and AZPM. We respectfully acknowledge the University of Arizona is on the land and territories of Indigenous peoples.
By submitting your comments, you hereby give AZPM the right to post your comments and potentially use them in any other form of media operated by this institution.