An A-10 Thunderbolt II takes off at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, on April 19, 2023, to test a software patch that allowing the plane to carry 16 GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs. U.S. Air Force / William R. Lewis
Defense One: A-10s Return to Middle East with a New Mission, and a New Weapon
Tensions with Iran, Russia have CENTCOM calling upon the venerable Warthog once again.
A squadron of A-10 Thunderbolt II attack jets, specially modified to nearly triple their bomb loads, has been dispatched to the Middle East to boost U.S. airpower in the region amid increased tensions with Iran-backed forces in Syria.
The Warthogs will get software updates enabling them to carry up to 16 Small Diameter Bombs within weeks, said Lt. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, who leads Air Forces Central Command.
“They’re really here as a message to both assure our partners…but also as…a true capability that can work against some of the threats that we face with respect to Iran,” Grynkewich said in an interview Thursday.
With each plane carrying four SDB bomb racks, a flight of four A-10s could bomb up to 64 ground targets, a nearly three-fold increase. Each plane can also carry laser-guided rockets along with its famed 30mm tankbusting gun.
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WNU Editor: I think this is also a message to Russia in Syria, and to the Gulf states who are seeking better ties with Iran AND China.
U.S. Deploys A-10s With Bunker Busting Bombs To The Middle East In A Message To Iran
U.S. Arms Warplanes With ‘Bunker Busting’ Bombs in Message to Iran — WSJ
Air Force squadron in Middle East arms up with ‘bunker busting’ bombs to counter Iran — FOX News
A-10 attack plane Air Force wants to retire gets new mission, more bombs — Business Insider
US sends warplanes with bunker-busting bombs to Mideast in message to Iran — report — Times of Israel
Source: U.S. Deploys A-10s With Bunker Busting Bombs To The Middle East In A Message To Iran
Category: a-10, u.s. middle east
