Photo: Alex Horest
Tens of billions of dollars worth of foreign military hardware and financial liquidity have been sent to Ukraine since the start of its invasion and occupation by Russia last February. But since day one, the most noteworthy assets which haven't made their way to the Ukrainian front are two particular U.S. jets. Ukrainian pilots may have been stateside getting to grips with the F-16 for some time now. But the other jet in the equation, the A-10 Thunderbolt II, is still playing hard to get for the time being.
That won't stop people in the av-geek community from fantasizing what the lovingly nicknamed "Warthog" might look like if there ever came a day the U.S. finally relents and sends a squadron or two via Lend-Lease to convert Russian armor to scrap metal. Thanks to the DCS World community, a player by the name of Alex Horest gave us a first-hand glimpse of what the Warthog would look like in Ukrainian service. Safe to say, it's one of the most breathtaking decal schemes ever applied to an A-10 airframe in the real world or in video games.
Based on the pixel camo architecture native to Ukraine's 299th Tactical Aviation Brigade, the design is most well known for its application on the Sukhoi Su-25 attack jet that's been slugging it out against Russian ground targets since the beginning of the war. Though a touch larger than the Su-25, the A-10 wears this camo in the virtual world like a tuxedo at the MET Gala. So to say, it'd turn heads wherever it flew should it actually come to pass. It's questionable whether the A-10's 30 caliber Gau-8 Avenger autocannon could pierce the armor of the most modern Russian tanks. But rest assured, that doesn't mean the A-10 would be completely useless in a Russo-Ukrainian war context.
Sure, U.S. Air Force doctrine usually dictates that A-10s don't even sniff enemy air space until not just air superiority but full-blown air dominance is at hand. This means that every enemy aircraft, surface-to-air missile installation, heck, even shoulder-mounted MANPADs are neutralized to the point the enemy is unlikely to counter incoming Warthogs. But that doesn't mean the Ukrainians would necessarily have to utilize the strict combat doctrines of the USAF on Lend-Lease A-10s. Against Russian military assets with antiquated surface-to-air missile installations and questionable reserves of air-to-air missiles, chances are good that A-10s could inflict massive damage against enemy light armor, including SAM sights, light tanks, APCs, and infantry fighting vehicles.
Besides, it's not like an autocannon is the A-10's only trick. With a full suite of guided bombs, unguided bombs, rocket pods, air-to-surface missiles, and electronic countermeasures hardware, the Warthog has more than a few ways of skinning the proverbial cat that looks more like a Russian bear. Alas, it's all in the realm of video games. At least, for now, they are.
Based on the pixel camo architecture native to Ukraine's 299th Tactical Aviation Brigade, the design is most well known for its application on the Sukhoi Su-25 attack jet that's been slugging it out against Russian ground targets since the beginning of the war. Though a touch larger than the Su-25, the A-10 wears this camo in the virtual world like a tuxedo at the MET Gala. So to say, it'd turn heads wherever it flew should it actually come to pass. It's questionable whether the A-10's 30 caliber Gau-8 Avenger autocannon could pierce the armor of the most modern Russian tanks. But rest assured, that doesn't mean the A-10 would be completely useless in a Russo-Ukrainian war context.
Sure, U.S. Air Force doctrine usually dictates that A-10s don't even sniff enemy air space until not just air superiority but full-blown air dominance is at hand. This means that every enemy aircraft, surface-to-air missile installation, heck, even shoulder-mounted MANPADs are neutralized to the point the enemy is unlikely to counter incoming Warthogs. But that doesn't mean the Ukrainians would necessarily have to utilize the strict combat doctrines of the USAF on Lend-Lease A-10s. Against Russian military assets with antiquated surface-to-air missile installations and questionable reserves of air-to-air missiles, chances are good that A-10s could inflict massive damage against enemy light armor, including SAM sights, light tanks, APCs, and infantry fighting vehicles.
Besides, it's not like an autocannon is the A-10's only trick. With a full suite of guided bombs, unguided bombs, rocket pods, air-to-surface missiles, and electronic countermeasures hardware, the Warthog has more than a few ways of skinning the proverbial cat that looks more like a Russian bear. Alas, it's all in the realm of video games. At least, for now, they are.
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