Eight U.S. A-10 tankbusters have just deployed to Estonia

Aug 23 2015 - 6 Comments
By David Cenciotti

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 “Hogs” will also perform low-level flying activity during the deployment.

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.

Image credit: U.S. Air Force

 

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  • Andrew Tubbiolo

    Nothing like the green green grass of former Soviet airfields in the former Soviet interior.

  • Phillip Leech

    Idiots. They should be making new ones with all the upgrades and up to date airframes.

  • cootersdad

    and the government wants to retire the a-10s. sure knows where to go when it needs a special job done.

  • But the A-10 is obsolete. How is this possible?

  • CoAxeMann

    GO WARTHOG! We <3 YOU!

  • Jared

    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.