A combination of aircraft—including the F-35A, MQ-9, and perhaps upcoming programs such as the Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA)—could offset the loss of the A-10.
The upcoming retirement of the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II—better known as the “Warthog”—has been met with considerable resistance, owing to the A-10’s uniquely superlative ability to provide close air support (CAS). The A-10’s retirement is expected to degrade the US military’s ability to provide CAS to troops on the ground, as no obvious heir apparent to the A-10’s CAS responsibilities exists. However, through a combination of existing and perhaps future aircraft, the US Military will work to provide adequate CAS to troops on the ground. The two most likely candidates to fill the A-10’s vacancy are the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II and the General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper.
The F-35A’s 35 MM Canon Packs a Punch
- Year Introduced: 2016
- Number Built: Over 1,000 total (approximately 350–400 F-35A for USAF)
- Length: 51.4 ft (15.7 m)
- Height: 14.4 ft (4.4 m)
- Wingspan: 35 ft (10.7 m)
- Weight:
- Empty: 29,300 lb (13,290 kg)
- Standard conditions: 49,540 lb (22,471 kg)
- Maximum takeoff weight: 65,918 lb (29,900 kg)
- Engines: One Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100 afterburning turbofan
- Top Speed: Mach 1.6 (~1,200 mph)
- Range: 1,380 miles (1,200 nautical miles); ~670 nmi combat radius
- Service Ceiling: 50,000 ft (15,240 m)
- Loadout: 25 mm GAU-22/A internal cannon (180 rounds); up to 18,000 lb of ordnance, including JDAM, SDB, Paveway, AMRAAM, AIM-9X, and JASSM on internal and external hardpoints
- Aircrew: 1
The F-35A is the US Air Force’s variant of the fifth-generation multirole fighter, and the most likely candidate to replace the A-10’s CAS roles. However, the F-35A was not built exclusively for CAS functions. Unlike the A-10, which was designed to excel in CAS and nothing else, the F-35A was built to perform across a wider variety of functions. Fortunately, the F-35A still features several CAS-enhancing capabilities, some of which even the A-10 lacked.
Most notably, the stealthy F-35A can operate in contested airspace with a degree of survivability that the Cold War-era A-10 never matched. The F-35A can also deliver a wide array of precision-guided munitions, including small-diameter bombs and laser-guided weapons, making the jet effective for precision CAS in complex terrain. While the F-35A lacks the massive autocannon for which the A-10 is known, the aircraft is outfitted with a 35-mm GAU-22/A, which is capable of delivering devastating damage. The F-35A also excels in data fusion and network-centric capabilities, to an extent unmatched in operation anywhere in the world. The result is that the F-35A can share information with ground forces and other assets in real time.
However, the F-35A also has CAS drawbacks relative to the renowned A-10. The F-35A’s lack of a massive auto cannon and its inability to loiter over battlefields for extended periods mean it is not well-equipped for the low-and-slow flight that characterizes effective CAS operations.
The MQ-9 Reaper Can Carry a Variety of Weapons
- Year Introduced: 2007
- Number Built: Over 300
- Length: 36 ft (11 m)
- Height: 12.5 ft (3.8 m)
- Wingspan: 66 ft (20.1 m)
- Weight:
- Empty: 4,900 lb (2,223 kg)
- Standard conditions: ~7,000 lb (3,175 kg)
- Maximum takeoff weight: 10,500 lb (4,760 kg)
- Engines: One Honeywell TPE-331-10 turboprop engine
- Top Speed: 300 mph (260 knots)
- Range: 1,150 miles (1,000 nautical miles); extended range up to 1,400 nmi
- Service Ceiling: 50,000 ft (15,240 m)
- Loadout: Up to 3,750 lb of ordnance including AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, GBU-12 Paveway II, GBU-38 JDAM, GBU-49, GBU-54 Laser JDAM
- Aircrew: 2 (remote pilot and sensor operator)
The US Air Force is investing in the MQ-9 as a supplement to CAS operations. The MQ-9 is capable of carrying precision weapons, loitering for extended durations, and providing constant surveillance of a battle space. While the drone is not nearly as rugged or heavily armed as the A-10, it can provide valuable overwatch and strike capability, particularly in lower-threat environments. However, drones are dependent upon secure communications and are limited with respect to the dynamics of fast-moving combat applications, where manned aircraft still provide superior flexibility.
The fact of the matter is that no single aircraft can directly replace the A-10. However, a combination of aircraft, including the F-35A, MQ-9, and perhaps upcoming programs such as the Air Force’s Light Attack Experiment (OA-X) or Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), will enable the United States to offset the loss of the A-10.
About the Author: Harrison Kass
Harrison Kass is a Senior Defense and National Security Writer at The National Interest. Kass is an attorney and former political candidate who joined the US Air Force as a pilot trainee before being medically discharged. He focuses on military strategy, aerospace, and global security affairs. He holds a JD from the University of Oregon and a master’s in Global Journalism and International Relations from NYU.
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
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