WASHINGTON — The Air Force is shelving plans to retire the aging A-10 “Warthog” aircraft, a heavily armored tank killer, because of its role in the fight against Islamic State, online publication Defense One reported Wednesday, citing unnamed Pentagon officials.
The 40-year-old ground attack aircraft is popular with soldiers, Marines — and some lawmakers.
Defense One quoted the Air Force officials as saying that, while the A-10 would still need to be retired, the service would put aside immediate plans to take it out of service because of the important role it is playing in combating Islamic State. In November, A-10s destroyed a fleet of ISIS trucks that were transporting oil, a primary source of income for the Syria- and Iraq-based terror group.
The aircraft have been deployed to bases in Eastern Europe as a deterrent against continued Russian hostility in the region, which is a significant milestone in the life of the A-10, because they were originally designed to destroy Soviet tanks during the Cold War.
Because of its armor, the slow-moving A-10 can withstand ground fire while loitering for long periods over a battlefield, spraying 30mm armor-piercing, depleted-uranium cannon rounds at tanks and other targets.
An Air Force spokeswoman said there was “no information at this time” on plans to delay the A-10's retirement and said details on the fiscal year 2017 budget would be released in February.
