US Air Force A-10 Warthog Conducted Live-Fire Gunnery Drill with Navy LCS
A U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft provides close air support to Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Santa Barbara (LCS 32) during a training exercise in the Arabian Gulf, Feb. 2, 2026. Santa Barbara is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to support maritime security and stability in the Middle East. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Iain Page)
US Air Force A-10 Warthog Conducted Live-Fire Gunnery Drill with Navy LCS
In spite of ongoing debate over its value in a future great-power conflict, the A-10 Warthog remains beloved by many in the Pentagon—and has demonstrated continuing effectiveness.
The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that a US Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II close air support aircraft conducted a live-fire gunnery drill alongside a US Navy Independence-class littoral combat ship (LCS) in the 5th Fleet area of responsibility earlier this month.
“Exercise Killer Tomato,” as it was reportedly designated, took place on February 2 and was led by the US Air Forces Central Command (AFCENT), which has maintained a rotating presence of A-10 Thunderbolt II CAS aircraft to support operations in the Middle East. Approximately two and a half squadrons of the ground-attack aircraft remained deployed in the region.
The drill was conducted alongside the Independence-class LCS USS Santa Barbara (LCS-32), which has been operating in the region since September 2025. It was last December that the warship tested a low-cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System Drone for the first time at sea.
The A-10 Warthog Is America’s Flying Tank Killer
- Year Introduced: 1979
- Number Built: 713 (~270 remaining in service)
- Length: 53 ft, 4 in (16.16 m)
- Wingspan: 57 ft, 6 in (17.42 m)
- Weight (MTOW): 51,000 lb (22,950 kg)
- Engines: Two General Electric TF34-GE-100 turbofans
- Top Speed: 420 mph (676 km/h) / Mach 0.56
- Range: 800 miles (1,287 km)
- Service Ceiling: 45,000 ft (13,636 m)
- Loadout: One 30mm GAU-8/A seven-barrel Gatling gun; up to 16,000 pounds (7,200 kilograms) of mixed ordnance on eight under-wing and three under-fuselage pylon stations
- Aircrew: 1
Production of the A-10 Thunderbolt II began in 1972, and the aircraft officially entered service with the United States Air Force in 1977. The A-10’s short takeoff and landing (STOL) capability permitted it to operate from airstrips close to front lines. Service at forward base areas with limited facilities is possible due to the A-10’s simple design.
Known affectionately as the “Warthog” by its pilots and ground crew, the A-10 was first deployed during Operation Urgent Fury, the 1983 American invasion of Grenada, where it provided air cover for the United States Marine Corps but did not fire its weapons. It wasn’t until the Gulf War in 1991 that the aircraft first took part in combat operations. A-10s successfully shot down two Iraqi helicopters with the GAU-8, and took part in numerous sorties against Iraqi Republican Guard ground targets.
Support for the A-10 Continues, Despite Some Opposition
Supporters of the A-10 note that it offers excellent maneuverability at low airspeeds and altitude while maintaining a highly accurate weapons-delivery platform. The Thunderbolt II can loiter near battle areas for extended periods, perform austere landings, and operate under 1,000-foot ceilings (303.3 meters) with 1.5-mile (2.4 kilometers) visibility.
During the recent live-fire drills, the capabilities of the A-10 were also demonstrated.
“US Naval Forces Central Command said A-10 aircraft were used more frequently during the exercise than other fixed-wing platforms because of their established role in close air support and their ability to operate at low altitude for extended periods,” The Defence Blog explained.
It added that the aircraft’s “long loiter time,” coupled with “suitability for visual target identification,” makes it well-suited for exercises focused on “coordination” over speed.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciuhascontributedover 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also acontributing writerfor Forbes andClearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter:@PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.
Image: Dvidshub / US Navy.
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