The A-10 Warthog Saved from Cuts, Sent To Work Fighting ISIS…

Buddhas Brother September 27, 2014

Footage has recently surfaced that captures an A-10 Warthog and Apache helicopters in action fighting ISIS. Apparently filmed by Special Forces troops on the ground in Syria the incredible video may show the officially announced October introduction of the A-10 has already happened.

Presented for your viewing pleasure is the video that probably shouldn’t exist for another month, capturing the roar of an A-10’s GAU-8 Avenger Gatling gun, introducing ISIS fighters to the hand of god.

As previously reported here at Highpants one of the greatest ground support aircraft ever created the A-10 Warthog nearly ceased to exist thanks to US budget cuts. Defense cuts by Congress had the 40 year old aircraft close to retirement only to be saved at the last minute with Congress told that cutting the aircraft would lead to deaths of US servicemen. The correct decision it turns out as a new terrorist threat raises its ugly head. ISIS is a different kind of army, spread out and made up of small fast moving cells that can work to attack a target, battles with many small fronts. The Warthog loves these battles, loitering above for long periods, causing massive destruction with each pass.

With the worlds work only just beginning in the fight against ISIS aircraft from many nations are concentrating their explosive force against the Islamic state fighters. As it is being sold by politicians at the moment this is a fight that will be kept at arms distance with no US or coalition boots on the ground in Iraq or Syria. War is never that simple though, even a bombing campaign requires some boots on the ground. Obama has already announced 1,000 troops will be involved; advisers, intelligence personnel, and special operations forces will be a part of the campaign operating out of bases in Baghdad and Erbil. In a recent article Max Boot, a senior fellow at the Council of Foreign Relations estimated that it may require 10,000 – 15,000 ground troops to defeat ISIS in the long run.

While the F-22 and Drones will play an increasingly important role in all American wars the A-10 is the aircraft that makes the difference to the soldiers on the ground. Unlike bombing runs the A-10 chases down the opposition and protects the front line, it doesn’t spend its time blowing up empty buildings.