The U.S. has put off the retirement of a 1970s era fighter plane, citing its effectiveness in the fight against the Islamic State military group among the reasons for keeping the jets flying.
The A-10 Thunderbolt, nicknamed the "Warthog," is a close-support aircraft designed in the early 1970s to counter Soviet armored forces. The twin-engine jet is not fast, but is able to engage a wide variety of ground targets with its main gun, a 30mm cannon, as well as missiles, rockets and other munitions launched or dropped from wing pylons. The plane is also extremely durable and can withstand considerable damage from ground fire and keep flying.
Major role in Iraq War, Afghanistan
The A-10 was first used in combat during the 1991 Gulf War, destroying thousands of Iraqi tanks, armored vehicles and artillery pieces. It has played a role in most major U.S. military action since then, including the Balkans conflict in the late 1990s, the Iraq War and Afghanistan.
FILE - A U.S. Air Force Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II in-flight over Afghanistan, Oct. 2008. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Aaron Allmon)
The U.S. Air Force has called for retiring the A-10, citing budget savings and saying the aircraft's role can be filled by newer, more versatile planes. But the 2017 Defense Department budget says the Warthog will keep flying at least through 2022.
Efficient in combating IS
This week, U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter told Congress the A-10's usefulness combating IS in Iraq and Syria is one reason the Pentagon wants to keep the plane.
FILE - U. S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter addresses the U.S. troops as he stands in front of a drone at the Incirlik Air Base near Adana, Turkey, Dec. 15, 2015.
"I saw some of the A-10s that are flying bombing missions against ISIL when I was at Incirlik Air Base in Turkey last December, and we need the additional payload capacity they can bring to the fight," Carter told a House Appropriations subcommittee on Thursday. "We're pushing off the A-10's final retirement until 2022 so we can keep more aircraft that can drop smart bombs on ISIL."
ISIL is another acronym for Islamic State.
Sen. John McCain, a long-time supporter of the A-10, said earlier this month he was pleased the Warthog would remain in the U.S. arsenal.
“I look forward to seeing our A-10 pilots continue to make important advances in the fight against ISIL in the Middle East, boosting NATO’s efforts to deter Russian aggression in Eastern Europe, and supporting vital missions for U.S. national security wherever they are needed,” McCain said in a statement.