The IA-10 Warthog has been given a new role to target boats in Iran after the retirement efforts
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The IA-10 Warthog has a new naval role in targeting submarines in the Iran war that could extend the life of the aircraft, which the US Air Force has been trying to phase out for years.
Despite the fact that the Air Force is trying to eliminate the A-10, Congress has resisted its efforts and blocked efforts to reduce the number of these aircraft.
A-10s have been used in the US military campaign against Iran, as the Pentagon sees the need for an aircraft that can maneuver and deliver accurate fire against small boats and coastal threats.
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The IA-10 Warthog has a new naval role in targeting submarines in the Iran war. (Joan Valls/Urbanandsport/Nurphoto)
During the Pentagon meeting last month, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan Caine said the A-10 planes are “at war” and operating across the southern conflict, including targeting Iranian boats in the Strait of Hormuz.
“We’re continuing to hunt and kill mine reserves and naval ammunition depots. We’re continuing to hunt and kill floating assets, including more than 120 ships and 44 minelayers, and the pressure will continue,” Caine said at a March 19 briefing.
“The IA-10 Warthog is now in the battle across the southern flank and is hunting and killing the fast attacking water boats in the Straits of Hormuz. In addition, the AH-64 Apache has joined the battle on the southern flank, and continues to work on the southern flank. And that includes some of our allies who use Apaches to handle drones in one way.
Despite the fact that the Air Force is trying to eliminate the A-10, Congress has resisted its efforts and blocked efforts to reduce the number of these aircraft. (CHRISTOF STACHE/AFP via Getty Images)
This comes as President Donald Trump has increased threats against Iran, including its human infrastructure, in connection with its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which has disrupted energy supplies around the world. However, the US and Iran agreed to a temporary ceasefire on Tuesday, hours before Trump’s deadline to strike energy plants and bridges unless Tehran reopens the Strait of Hormuz.
As of 2026, the Air Force has about 280 A-10 aircraft in service, and Congress required the fleet not to fall below 103 aircraft by Fiscal Year 2026 as part of the National Defense Authorization Act.
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President Donald Trump has increased threats against Iran, including its civilian infrastructure, due to its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. (SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)
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Although the A-10 is slower and less stealthy than the newer aircraft, making it vulnerable in highly competitive airspace with modern integrated air defense systems, it has a longer passive time on targets and the ability to visually identify and engage targets.
Originally designed as a Cold War-era tank killer, the A-10 is now being used in a markedly different role – targeting small, fast-moving boats and coastal threats during a conflict with Iran. The use of the aircraft intensifies the debate over the Air Force’s decade-old effort to phase out the aircraft, as it continues to be used for new missions.
