February 9, 2026 at 11:10 PM
A-10 Warthog Protects Mine-Hunting Littoral Combat Ship In Persian Gulf Drill
The A-10, now in the twilight of its career, is uniquely suited to protect naval assets from lower-end threats, such as swarms of Iranian small boats. The post A-10 Warthog Protects Mine-Hunting Littoral Combat Ship In...
We just got some interesting photos out of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) showing A-10C Warthog ground attack jets exercising with the USS Santa Barbara (LCS-32), an Independence class Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) that is currently deployed in the region. At a glance, the two assets seem somewhat strangely paired, but the images highlight a long-standing mission of the A-10, and one that has grown far more prominent in the twilight of its career.
A-10s are currently forward deployed to Jordan, where they primarily fly missions over Syria, striking ISIS-related targets and providing close air support and overwatch to the roughly 1,000 troops still deployed there. The Warthog’s current work in Syria is particularly notable because the aircraft’s future is very much in doubt. As it sits, the Air Force intends to retire the A-10 fully no later than 2029, but that day could come much sooner.