Every time the fate of the A-10 is discussed, it becomes a battle of worldviews. On one side are the modernization advocates, who speak in terms of budget, range, and speed. On the other are the front-line military, who understand the importance of effective air support.
It’s funny that they’re trying to justify the Warthog’s write-off not even by its shortcomings, but by its “outdated appearance”. But pilots love this plane, and the infantry knows that there is no better friend than the A-10!
So why does the aging attack aircraft evoke such a profound emotional response, and how did this noisy, ungainly craft become a symbol of efficiency even in the midst of the stealth fighter era?