A U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft assigned to the 25th Fighter Squadron from Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, takes off from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, Aug. 20, 2015, during Red Flag-Alaska (RF-A) 15-3. RF-A is a series of Pacific Air Forces commander-directed field training exercise for U.S. and partner nation forces, providing combined offensive counter-air, interdiction, close air support and large force employment training in a simulated combat environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Joshua Turner/Released)
Another package of U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II attack planes has arrived in Estonia.
Eight A-10s and approximately 170 reservists have arrived to Ämari Air Base, Estonia, as part of a flying training deployment in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve on Aug. 22.
The aircraft belong to the 303rd Fighter Squadron, 442nd Fighter Wing, from Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, and they task is to show “continued commitment to the collective security of NATO and dedication to the enduring peace and stability in the region.”
Supported also by guardsmen from three Air National Guard units, the A-10s will train with their Estonian counterparts for three weeks and will also take part in training with Finnish air forces.
The U.S. Air Force “tankbusters” have become quite a frequent presence across eastern Europe following the war in eastern Ukraine two years after the last A-10s to be permanently based in Europe left their permanent base Spangdahlem in May 2013.
David Cenciotti is a journalist based in Rome, Italy. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviationist”, one of the world’s most famous and read military aviation blogs. Since 1996, he has written for major worldwide magazines, including Air Forces Monthly, Combat Aircraft, and many others, covering aviation, defense, war, industry, intelligence, crime and cyberwar. He has reported from the U.S., Europe, Australia and Syria, and flown several combat planes with different air forces. He is a former 2nd Lt. of the Italian Air Force, a private pilot and a graduate in Computer Engineering. He has written five books and contributed to many more ones.
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1 Comment
The soviet SAM threat existed when they designed the hog for anti-tank warfare on the fields of Europe. It’s designed to take the battle damage and survive, which it’s proven it can do. I don’t understand how it’s unable to be used over the obviously much more permissible environment over Syria. It worked wonders over Iraq. The decision is purely political because they don’t want ISIS to win any PR battles by being able to gloat over even damaging a USAF aircraft. My two cents anyways.
The soviet SAM threat existed when they designed the hog for anti-tank warfare on the fields of Europe. It’s designed to take the battle damage and survive, which it’s proven it can do. I don’t understand how it’s unable to be used over the obviously much more permissible environment over Syria. It worked wonders over Iraq. The decision is purely political because they don’t want ISIS to win any PR battles by being able to gloat over even damaging a USAF aircraft. My two cents anyways.