Try to do that with an F-35….
As already reported, two U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II jets belonging to the 75th Fighter Squadron, from Moody Air Force Base, performed austere landing operations at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California, as part of a Green-Flag West mission on Jul. 26.
The following footage shows the two aircraft land sending up clouds of dirt (the status of the unprepared runway can be seen at the beginning of the video), meet face to face with the combat controllers who called them in and then depart to continue their Close Air Support mission.
Now, the video proves the “Hogs” can operate from sand/desert strips. What about the aircraft that is going to replace the A-10 in the U.S. Air Force? Will the F-35A be able to land in an unprepared field, to refuel and take off again to continue the fight?
In the meanwhile, check this gorgeous video showing the badass “Warthog” at work!