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Crowds have gathered to attend the arrival of US Air Force (USAF) A-10C Thunderbolt II close air support (CAS) aircraft at RAF Lakenheath, Suffolk, UK.
12 Warthogs (as the A-10 is dubbed by her aircrews) were spotted landed in the evening of Mar. 30, 2026.
The A-10s arrived in pairs of 6 with one arriving just after sunset and the other much later into the evening.
The interesting video in this post only features TABOR71-76, the first cell of six, who arrived after sunset in very poor light conditions. The following six arrived approximately half an hour later.
According to BBC, another contingent was expected to arrive in the night of Mar. 31 amid speculation they were heading towards the Middle East to participate in Operation Epic Fury over Iran.
The US military would not comment on their mission.
The aircraft belong to the 127th Wing, Michigan Air National Guard at Selfridge Air National Guard Base.
A powerhouse of air dominance and strategic agility—the 127th Wing operates both the A-10 Thunderbolt II and KC-135 Stratotanker flying missions. The 127th Wing stands as the only Air National Guard unit to host a military installation, Selfridge Air National Guard Base. With over 1,400 elite Airmen, 45 mission partners, we defend the homeland and fuel global missions, with unmatched versatility and readiness.
On Apr 29, 2025 it was announced that the existing A-10’s would be replaced with the new F-15EX. 21 of these jets will be delivered in fiscal 2028.
As already explained, the USAF A-10 attack aircraft have been used to strike Iranian naval vessels during Operation Epic Fury.
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said on Mar. 19 that the US Air Force (USAF) A-10 Thunderbolt II close air support (CAS) aircraft are now engaged in maritime interdiction operations along the southern flank of Operation Epic Fury, targeting Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fast-attack watercraft in the Strait of Hormuz.
“The A-10 Warthog is now engaged across the southern flank, targeting fast-attack watercraft in the Strait of Hormuz,” USAF Gen. Dan Caine said during a Pentagon briefing on the operation.
The Warthog role in Operation Epic Fury saw an expansion with this announcement. On Mar. 15, US Central Command (CENTCOM) released imagery of A-10C Thunderbolt IIs receiving fuel in flight while supporting the operation, the first official visuals of the aircraft in the campaign.
“The A-10 Thunderbolt II can loiter for hours, standing by and ready to execute a mission whenever needed,” CENTCOM said in the accompanying post on X.
Additionally, the A-10 is supporting Operation Epic Fury by conducting strafing runs over Iranian-backed PMF (Popular Mobilization Forces) positions at Mosul.
Noteworthy, the Congress has moved to save the mighty Warthog from the USAF divestment efforts. In fact, the service’s plan to retire the remaining fleet has been blocked by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 that mandated a minimum inventory of 103 A-10s through Sep. 30, 2026, and requiring detailed transition planning.
The A-10C (dubbed Warthog by her aircrews) offers excellent maneuverability at low airspeeds and altitude while maintaining a highly accurate weapons-delivery platform. They can loiter near battle areas for extended periods of time, are capable of austere landings and operate under 1,000-foot ceilings (303.3 meters) with 1.5-mile (2.4 kilometers) visibility. Additionally, with the capability of carrying precision guided munitions and unguided munitions, they can employ above, below and in the weather. Their wide combat radius and short takeoff and landing capability permit operations in and out of locations near front lines. Using night vision goggles, A-10C pilots can conduct their missions during darkness.
Thunderbolt IIs have Night Vision Imaging Systems (NVIS), goggle compatible single-seat cockpits forward of their wings, Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems, and a large bubble canopy which provides pilots all-around vision. The pilots are protected by titanium armor that also protects parts of the flight-control system. The redundant primary structural sections allow the aircraft to enjoy better survivability during close air support than previous aircraft.
The aircraft can survive direct hits from armor-piercing and high explosive projectiles up to 23mm. Their self-sealing fuel cells are protected by internal and external foam. Manual systems back up their redundant hydraulic flight-control systems. This permits pilots to fly and land when hydraulic power is lost.
Photo credit: Screenshot from YouTube video
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