Jordan may soon bolster its air fleet with the acquisition of the iconic A-10 Warthogs from the US Air Force. The US Air Force has finally begun reducing its fleet of these attack aircraft. In 2023, 21 A-10s were retired from service, and 42 others will be stored at Davis-Monthan Base in Arizona by the end of the fiscal year. The remaining 218 aircraft will be gradually phased out by 2028 or 2029.
The Fairchild A-10 Warthog, renowned for its powerful 30mm GAU-8 Avenger Gatling gun, is a true legend of the Cold War. Designed to destroy Soviet armored vehicles, it proved its worth during Operation Desert Storm in 1991 and played a crucial role in Afghanistan and Iraq for close air support of ground troops.
However, General Charles Brown, the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman, justified the reduction in the number of A-10s by emphasizing that the US Air Force must prepare for increasingly contested environments, requiring versatile aircraft rather than single-mission ones like the A-10.
Despite its gradual withdrawal, the A-10 still garners interest. Ukraine, for example, had expressed a desire to use it against Russian armored vehicles. Nevertheless, US Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall revealed last April that another country, besides Ukraine, had shown interest in these aircraft. This country is likely Jordan, according to the specialized site The War Zone.