The deployment of extra A-10Cs to the Center East, the primary of which arrived at RAF Lakenheath, demonstrates the continued reliance on the shut air assist plane for operations in Iran.
The U.S. Air Drive A-10C Thunderbolt II jets have been actively supporting Operation Epic Fury in Iran because the early days, with the assault plane additionally concentrating on quick assault watercraft within the Strait of Hormuz. Now, the presence of the A-10 in theater is ready to additional enhance with at the very least 188 extra plane transiting in Europe on their option to the Center East.
New Coronet Flights
Twelve A-10s arrived at RAF Lakenheath within the night of Mar. 30, divided in two cells of six plane every. Flying with the callsigns TABOR 71-76 and TABOR 81-86, the Warthogs (because the plane are nicknamed inside the fighter pilot neighborhood) departed from Pease Air Nationwide Guard Base, New Hampshire, the place they arrived final week.
MI A-10C #TABOR71-76 & #TABOR81-86 are inbound to RAF Lakenheath from Pease ANGB. They had been supported by KC-135 #BORA21-24 & #BORA31-34 on Coronet East 032. pic.twitter.com/9sy3biYJHe
— EISNspotter (@EISNspotter) March 30, 2026
The flight over the Atlantic Ocean was supported by eight KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling plane. 4 of them departed from RAF Mildenhall, assembly the A-10s midway over the ocean and taking on from the opposite 4 KC-135 which departed from Bangor Air Nationwide Guard Base, Maine.
A-10 Thunderbolt IIs from the Michigan Air Nationwide Guard arrive at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, UK, as Operation Epic Fury continues.
Full VLOG to come back: pic.twitter.com/noxFrvGXoq
— CobraEmergency (@CobraEmergency) March 30, 2026
These first 12 A-10s are assigned to the 107th Fighter Squadron from Selfridge ANGB, Michigan. Two extra A-10s of the identical unit had been additionally flown to Pease as spares, and later returned to their house base.
Moreover, six extra Warthogs are nonetheless on the bottom at Pease, ready for the ocean crossing, however it’s presently unclear if they are going to be joined by six extra plane. These A-10s are from the a hundred and ninetieth FS primarily based at Gowen Discipline ANGB, Idaho.
Six 190FS A-10s arrived at Pease ANGB from Boise, ID as TABOR 91 flight. They’re enroute to the Gulf on #ALTRV Coronet East 062 #CoronetEast #CE062 #TABOR91 pic.twitter.com/qyJnPXwsmM
— Coronet_deployments 🇳🇱 🇺🇸 (@CoronetEast) March 27, 2026
The A-10’s Function in Iran
The shut air assist plane has lengthy been mentioned to not have a spot in a contemporary battle with closely contested environments. Nonetheless, the A-10, because of its versatility, has shortly started working in Iran in a number of roles.
Zero darkish thirty and vivid halogens don’t combine. 🙈 Them having to carry for IFR launch helped it get a bit of bit brighter by the point they took the RW.
Keep secure everybody 🐗🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/ORpip64fwI
— Dave O’Brien (@DaveOTGphotog) March 31, 2026
The primary official photos of the jet in motion as a part of Operation Epic Fury emerged on Mar. 15, displaying the A-10 with a blended loadout which will be employed towards a number of varieties of targets. The jets had been loaded with two AGM-65 Maverick air-to-surface guided missiles, two LAU-131 A/A pods with seven AGR-20 laser-guided rockets every and two AIM-9M Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, along with an AN/AAQ-28 Litening concentrating on pod and a 600 gallon exterior gas tank.
U.S. Air Drive A-10 Thunderbolt II’s obtain gas in-flight whereas supporting Operation Epic Fury. The A-10 Thunderbolt II can loiter for hours, standing by and able to execute a mission at any time when wanted. pic.twitter.com/VjESHLR32Y
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 15, 2026
This payload permits the A-10 a superb flexibility throughout fight missions, with the ability to have interaction each air and floor targets. The Sidewinders and the rockets have been already utilized by the Warthog whereas flying Counter Unmanned Aerial Techniques (C-UAS) missions towards small drones the Shahed 136.
This isn’t a information, because the A-10s had been additionally noticed whereas getting back from deployment in 2025 with Shahed-type UAS kill markings on their noses. Whereas no affirmation by the U.S. Air Drive was launched again then, the photographs had been the primary indication that the A-10 shot down hostile One Manner Assault (OWA) drones in fight.
This function is particularly made potential by the AGR-20 rocket, a Hydra 70 rocket modified with the Superior Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) steering equipment to rework it in a low value guided weapon. This was initially developed just for an air-to-ground use, however later advanced into the brand new function.
U.S. navy sustainers are on prime of their sport. pic.twitter.com/EK9eqF4fc8
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 20, 2026
The weapon not solely permits for an elevated payload, within the photos talked about bringing the air-to-air weapons from two to 16 in complete, but in addition has a smaller financial affect. The AGR-20 is the truth is estimated to have a value of lower than $30,000, which is extra comparable with the price of Iranian OWA drones in comparison with the more expensive AIM-9.
On Mar. 19, 2026, the Pentagon has additionally introduced that the A-10 is being employed to seek out Iranian quick assault watercraft within the Strait of Hormuz. The use in a maritime area is just not unprecedented, as the sort has recurrently taken half in U.S. submarine escort and live-fire workout routines in recent times.
Initially the Warthog has been not often used within the maritime area, with one of many few cases being the 2011 Operation Unified Protector which noticed A-10s participating, along with a P-3C Orion, a patrol boat and several other small assault craft within the port of Misrata, Libya. In a while, within the 2020s, the plane took half in a number of Maritime Floor Warfare workout routines and carried out unit protection coaching.
This follows the renewed consideration in direction of uneven threats brought on by the assaults within the Purple Sea or the skirmishes between the Ukrainian USVs (Unmanned Floor Automobiles) and the Russian Navy within the Black Sea. Excessive Worth Targets, like U.S. warships and civilian ships and tankers might be attacked and overwhelmed by coordinated swarms of USVs, difficult the normal naval protection methods.
U.S. Air Drive A-10 Thunderbolt II assault plane have been used to strike Iranian naval vessels throughout Operation Epic Fury. pic.twitter.com/VasnOrehax
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 25, 2026
The A-10’s maneuverability at low airspeeds and altitude, versatile armament, extremely correct weapons-delivery capabilities, and prolonged loiter time are all key attributes that make it extremely efficient at towards quick naval targets within the Persian Gulf and past.
The roles of the A-10 in Operation Epic Fury, nevertheless, don’t finish right here, because the plane can be getting used over Iraq towards Iran-aligned militias. A number of movies present the Warthog in motion in Iraq, conducting strafing runs with the GAU-8 30 mm gun.
Footage of a USAF A-10 Warthog strafing a militia base in Al Anbar Province, Iraq at present. pic.twitter.com/4bLBH1JDjq
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) March 25, 2026
