U.S. Air Force deploys A-10 Warthog ground attack aircraft in first strike wave against Iran.

U.S. Central Command confirmed that A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft were employed during the first 48 hours of Operation Epic Fury against Iranian targets.

U.S. Central Command confirmed that A-10 Thunderbolt II close air support aircraft were employed during the first 48 hours of Operation Epic Fury against Iranian targets. The attack aircraft was integrated into the initial strike wave, indicating missions requiring sustained close air support, armed overwatch, and engagement of dispersed targets amid the largest U.S. regional buildup since 2003.
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The A-10 Thunderbolt II was integrated into the initial strike wave against Iran, indicating missions requiring sustained close air support, armed overwatch, and engagement of dispersed targets. (Picture source: U.S. Air Force)

On March 2, 2026, U.S. Central Command confirmed that during the first 48 hours of Operation Epic Fury, the U.S. Air Force employed A-10 Thunderbolt II attack jets against Iranian targets, integrating a dedicated close air support aircraft into the initial strike wave. The A-10 operated alongside strategic bombers, fighter jets, missile defense systems, naval forces, rocket artillery, reconnaissance assets, and counter-drone systems identified for the same opening period. Its inclusion indicates missions requiring sustained presence over target areas, rapid re-engagement capability, and controlled delivery of fires against dispersed or mobile objectives.

In a theater marked by simultaneous strikes, base defense, and maritime security operations, the A-10’s endurance and low-altitude handling characteristics support armed overwatch, suppression of small launch teams, and engagement of tactical assets under time pressure. Operation Epic Fury followed a large-scale U.S. military buildup in the Middle East beginning in late January 2026 and expanding through February amid escalating tensions with Iran and stalled nuclear negotiations. The reinforcement included additional aircraft carriers, guided-missile destroyers, long-range bombers, tactical fighter deployments, air and missile defense systems, and expanded command-and-control infrastructure.

By February 19, 2026, the concentration of forces was the largest U.S. buildup in the region since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. This enabled simultaneous deep strikes, defensive counter-air operations, and protection of regional bases and maritime corridors near the Strait of Hormuz, as Iranian forces launched retaliatory missile and drone strikes across the Persian Gulf and Levant, affecting Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Cyprus, and maritime traffic. The A-10’s combat use occurred while its retirement remained restricted by congressional action in December 2025. The FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act prohibited the U.S. Air Force from reducing the A-10 inventory below 103 aircraft and required at least 93 primary mission aircraft through September 30, 2026.

The legislation barred the use of FY2026 funds to retire, prepare to retire, or reclassify aircraft into long-term storage or excess inventory below that threshold without formal certification and a recapitalization plan. Any further reduction required a unit-by-unit waiver process, a 30-day notification period after certification by the Secretary of the Air Force, and mitigation measures addressing personnel, mission redistribution, and local impacts. A multi-year transition plan covering 2027 to 2029 was mandated by March 31, 2026. These measures followed repeated attempts during the 2010s and early 2020s to retire portions of the fleet in order to prioritize F-35 procurement, reduce maintenance costs, and consolidate training pipelines. 

The A-10 'Warthog' Thunderbolt II originated from the A-X program launched by the U.S. after the Vietnam War to produce a survivable close air support aircraft capable of operating at low altitude under sustained ground fire. The selected YA-10 prototype entered service in the late 1970s as the A-10 Thunderbolt II, featuring a straight wing optimized for maneuverability at low speeds and high-mounted turbofan engines to reduce foreign object ingestion. A titanium armored cockpit structure protects the pilot against small arms and anti-aircraft fire, while redundant flight control systems and separated hydraulic lines increase survivability after damage. Modernization under the A-10C configuration introduced digital stores management, upgraded cockpit displays, electronic countermeasures, precision engagement capability, and compatibility with advanced targeting pods, extending the A-10's operational service life beyond initial projections.

Despite limitations against modern integrated air defense systems, the A-10 remains suitable for missions requiring sustained visual engagement and proximity to friendly forces. The GAU-8/A Avenger 30 mm seven-barrel Gatling autocannon forms the core of the A-10’s design and dictated structural layout, including an offset nose gear and a large internal ammunition drum. The cannon fires at 3,900 rounds per minute and uses PGU-14/B armor-piercing incendiary and PGU-13/B high-explosive incendiary ammunition with a muzzle velocity of 1,010 m/s and an effective range of 1,220 meters. Dispersion is rated at 5 mils, with 80 percent of rounds falling within a 12-meter circle at design range. The recoil force of 45 kN is managed through a recoil absorption system and centerline mounting, and the gun is bore-sighted 2 degrees below the flight path to maintain accuracy during low-altitude attack runs.

The ammunition capacity exceeds 1,150 rounds, and empty casings are returned to the drum to preserve balance. In addition to the cannon, the aircraft carries guided bombs, rockets, and AGM-65 Maverick missiles. Powered by two General Electric TF34-GE-100A turbofan engines, the A-10 has a typical cruise speed of 560 km/h and can operate from runways shorter than 1,200 meters, including semi-prepared surfaces. It carries up to 7,260 kg of mixed ordnance and incorporates redundant hydraulic systems with manual reversion capability, allowing flight control after hydraulic failure. Fuel tank foam protection, separated flight controls, and engine placement above the wings were validated in controlled damage testing during the 1970s.

Operational history includes the Gulf War, the Balkans, Iraq, and Afghanistan, where the aircraft conducted close air support, strike coordination and reconnaissance, and limited combat search and rescue escort missions. During Operation Desert Storm, A-10 units flew more than 8,000 sorties and destroyed large numbers of armored vehicles, artillery, and supply convoys. In 2003, Captain Kim “Killer Chick” Campbell returned a heavily damaged A-10 using manual controls after sustaining extensive anti-aircraft fire damage, which resulted in hundreds of small holes in the fuselage. In recent CENTCOM operations, the A-10's role expanded to maritime and counter-unmanned missions.

On February 2, 2026, an A-10C aircraft flew armed overwatch for USS Santa Barbara (LCS-32), an Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship configured with the Mine Countermeasures Mission Package, during a drill in the Arabian Gulf. Visible loadout included 500 lb Joint Direct Attack Munitions, a LITENING targeting pod, a seven-shot 2.75-inch rocket pod assessed as Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II, and a 600-gallon centerline fuel tank for extended endurance. The pairing aimed to protect mine-hunting operations in constrained waters near the Strait of Hormuz from fast-boat swarms, drones, and mining threats, while unmanned surface vehicles and MH-60S helicopters extended detection and neutralization outward from the ship. In October 2025, an A-10C returning from a roughly six-month deployment under callsign TABOR61 displayed two Shahed-type drone silhouettes on its nose, aligning with counter-UAS engagements during Operation Inherent Resolve.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.