After arriving in late March, twelve A-10C Thunderbolt IIs from Michigan’s 107th Fighter Squadron efficiently departed RAF Lakenheath on Apr. 8 in direction of the U.S. Central Command area.
The twelve assault jets arrived on the base, house to the U.S. Air Drive’s forty eighth Fighter Wing, on Mar. 30, 2026 as TABOR 71-76 and TABOR 81-86. They had been then joined by six extra A-10s from the Idaho Air Nationwide Guard the next day, these plane then departing on Apr. 2. The twelve Michigan birds tried to proceed their journey on Apr. 3, however all jets returned to Lakenheath shortly after launching attributable to unexpected scheduling and diplomatic clearance points with their assist tankers.
#USAF United States Air Drive – Coronet East
Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker 2x#AE0656 58-0102 – BORA 25#AE0486 62-3542 – BORA 35
+ TABOR 71-76 6x “MI” A-10s+ TABOR 81-86 6x “MI” A-10s
Two KC-135s departed Glasgow Prestwick this morning on Coronet East 032, dragging 12x A-10… pic.twitter.com/AWqYgRlxei
— Armchair Admiral 🇬🇧 (@ArmchairAdml) April 8, 2026
For at present’s profitable try, buddy of The Aviationist and aviation photographer Stewart Jack was on the fenceline to seize the departure. Utilizing the identical TABOR callsigns in two cells as after they arrived, the primary cell acquired gas assist from KC-135 Stratotanker 58-0102, callsign BORA 25, and the second cell from KC-135 Stratotanker 62-3542, callsign BORA 35.
As we famous in our article on the A-10’s new probe and drogue refueling modification, the KC-135 stays the one tanker within the U.S. stock cleared to operationally refuel the A-10C Thunderbolt II. Trials with the KC-46 Pegasus are ongoing, having beforehand been hampered by the A-10 struggling to correctly interact with the tanker’s growth to permit gas to move. In comparison with different fighters within the U.S. stock, the A-10’s excellent refueling altitude and velocity are a lot decrease, owing to the plane’s vastly completely different flight traits. Including hose and drogue refueling, then, would permit the A-10 fleet to as a substitute make use of C-130 based mostly refueling plane that are extra suitable with the A-10’s necessities.
Underneath the plane, we will see the A-10s sporting the standard centreline gas tank as effectively one MXU-648 cargo pod – generally referred to as a journey pod – below every wing. The jets are additionally carrying concentrating on pods, particularly LITENING concentrating on pods, on the starboard wing.
The departure of TABOR 71 and TABOR 81 flight means all A-10s which have lately arrived within the UK have now departed. After having been stuffed with ahead deployed fighters for a lot of weeks, RAF Lakenheath is now internet hosting solely a handful of visiting F-15E Strike Eagles and F-22 Raptors – these airframes apparently having skilled technical points stopping them from departing with the remainder of their items.
Notably, regardless of these apparently further A-10s heading into theatre, the F-22s that had stopped at Lakenheath for a number of weeks as a substitute departed again to the U.S. fairly than heading additional east. This most likely signifies the altering necessities within the battle as air defences are suppressed increasingly more every day. Even in circumstances the place Iranian air defences have succeeded, these have apparently used infrared guided floor to air missiles fairly than any radar guided programs – which means the F-22’s stealth traits are usually not as firmly in play.
An enormous chunk, in whole nearly fifty plane, of Lakenheath’s completely based mostly fleet are deployed to the Center East with the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). This contains F-15E Strike Eagles in addition to F-35A Lightning IIs. One of many base’s F-15s, marked as from the 494th Fighter Squadron, was downed over Iran final week – spawning an enormous rescue operation for the plane’s WSO which, whereas finally profitable, triggered the destruction of much more plane. Extra LN tail plane had been misplaced in a pleasant hearth incident to a Kuwaiti F/A-18 in early March.
The A-10’s Position in Operation Epic Fury
Within the earlier days of Operation Epic Fury, the Warthog carved out a comparatively low key place within the U.S. order of battle as they tackled Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Syria. These assault runs utilised precision guided weaponry just like the Superior Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS II) in addition to the jet’s signature 30 mm GAU-8/A Avenger rotary cannon.
A-10 pilot with a heavy finger on the set off throughout a strafing run concentrating on Iranian-backed PMF militia in Iraq. In all probability the longest ever burst I’ve heard. pic.twitter.com/8wwLqmbZXO
— Woofers (@NotWoofers) March 27, 2026
Because the warfare progressed, and Iran’s anti-air capabilities had been degraded additional, the A-10 started heading nearer to the frontlines of the battle. Deep strikes are nonetheless reserved for extra survivable platforms, however the A-10’s lengthy loiter functionality has been used to supply patrols over the Strait of Hormuz to counter the specter of Iranian quick assault craft (FAC) and different waterborne property.
Subsequently, A-10s had been concerned to a point within the search mission for the crew of the downed F-15E, which resulted in a single airframe taking successful extreme sufficient for the pilot to elect to ‘punch out’ of the airframe as soon as they managed to get again over pleasant territory in Kuwait. The deserted plane was left to crash into the bottom.
After many makes an attempt by the U.S. Air Drive to retire the A-10, normally blocked by Congress, the battle with Iran could have now demonstrated a brand new area of interest for the Warthog that might see it working for a big interval but. Definitely, the event of the refueling probe modification appears to point a extra lasting presence within the U.S. stock.
Many thanks as at all times to our buddy Stewart Jack for sending these pictures to make use of. You’ll find him on Fb and Instagram.
