.jpg)
Some warplanes are designed for greatness—built with cutting-edge technology, backed by powerful industries, and expected to dominate the skies from day one. Others, however, are dismissed before they even get off the ground. They’re seen as too outdated, too slow, or too underpowered to stand a chance.
But every now and then, an aircraft defies all expectations. A plane that was supposed to be a failure somehow finds itself in the fight of its life—and not only survives but wins.
This is the story of the A-10 Thunderbolt II, a warplane the U.S. Air Force never really wanted, one that was ridiculed and nearly scrapped before it even saw combat. And yet, when the moment of truth arrived, the A-10 didn't just succeed—it became a legend.
Born to Lose: The Plane Nobody Wanted
By the 1960s, the U.S. military was obsessed with speed and technology. Jet fighters were getting faster, more agile, and loaded with high-tech radar and guided missiles. The future of air combat, the experts believed, belonged to sleek, supersonic jets.
And then, in the middle of all this, the Air Force started developing something that seemed like a relic of the past—a slow, heavily armored attack plane designed to support ground troops. It wouldn’t fly at supersonic speeds. It wouldn’t dogfight. It wasn’t glamorous.
Worse, the Air Force didn’t even want it. The entire idea of "close air support"—where aircraft directly assist ground troops—was seen as something the Army should handle with helicopters. If the Air Force had its way, no such plane would exist at all. But political pressure and lessons from Vietnam (where American troops desperately needed better air cover) forced the Air Force to accept the idea.
Thus, the A-X program was launched to find a new ground-attack aircraft. When Fairchild Republic submitted their design—a stubby, ugly aircraft with straight wings and a massive gun—the reaction was lukewarm at best.
The A-10: Slow, Ugly, and Deadly
The A-10 Thunderbolt II, better known as the Warthog, was everything the Air Force didn’t want in a modern jet. It was slow—its top speed barely passed 400 mph. It was clunky—its straight wings made it look more like a World War II fighter than a sleek, modern jet.
But it had one thing no other aircraft did: a massive, 30mm GAU-8 Avenger rotary cannon—a gun so powerful that it could tear apart tanks. This seven-barrel monster fired depleted uranium shells at 4,200 rounds per minute, shredding anything in its path.
The A-10 was also nearly indestructible. Its cockpit was protected by a titanium “bathtub”, shielding the pilot from anti-aircraft fire. Its engines were mounted high and spaced apart to survive damage. The plane could lose half a wing, one engine, or most of its tail and still fly home.
Despite all these advantages, the A-10 was dismissed as a niche aircraft. The Air Force saw it as a “low-end” weapon, useful only in small conflicts. Some even predicted that if war broke out against a serious enemy—like the Soviet Union—the A-10 would be wiped out in days by advanced enemy fighters and missiles.
Then came the Gulf War.
Operation Desert Storm: The Underdog Takes Over
When Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990, the United States prepared for a massive air campaign against Saddam Hussein’s forces. The Air Force expected high-tech jets like the F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon to lead the fight. The A-10 was sent to the front lines almost as an afterthought.
But once the battle began, something incredible happened.
The A-10 didn't just survive—it dominated. Flying low and slow over the desert, Warthog pilots hunted enemy tanks like wolves. The GAU-8 cannon ripped through Iraqi armor, turning Saddam’s once-feared T-72 tanks into burning wrecks.
Unlike faster jets, the A-10 could stay in the fight for hours, circling the battlefield and providing instant support to ground troops. When anti-aircraft fire damaged the planes, they simply kept flying. Some returned to base with massive holes in their wings, missing tail sections, or even a lost engine.
By the end of the war, A-10s had destroyed over 900 Iraqi tanks, 2,000 military vehicles, and more than 1,000 artillery pieces. The aircraft that was never supposed to be useful had suddenly become one of the most feared weapons on the battlefield.
They Tried to Kill It—Again and Again
Despite its success, the Air Force still wanted to get rid of the A-10. As technology improved, officials argued that new stealth aircraft, drones, and precision-guided weapons could replace it. Multiple times over the years, the Air Force tried to retire the Warthog.
And yet, every time a war broke out where ground troops needed support—whether it was Iraq, Afghanistan, or Syria—the A-10 proved itself too valuable to let go.
Even in the 21st century, pilots still prefer the A-10 when the mission calls for getting down and dirty. No other plane can loiter over the battlefield for hours, survive heavy damage, and deliver the kind of brutal firepower that the Warthog provides.
The Warplane That Wouldn’t Die
The A-10 Thunderbolt II was supposed to be obsolete before it even started. It was dismissed, underestimated, and nearly killed off by the very Air Force that built it.
But against all odds, it became a legend—a warplane that outlasted its critics, tore apart its enemies, and saved countless lives on the battlefield.
In the end, the A-10 wasn’t supposed to win.
But it did. Over and over again.