Should the A-10 Warthog Be Retired?

About this video

Max argues against retiring the A-10 Warthog aircraft, particularly in light of the recent announcement that A-10s in South Korea will be phased out by 2025. He contends that the A-10’s design—built around a powerful 30mm gun—makes it uniquely suited for close air support and counterinsurgency operations, which he believes cannot be effectively replaced by the F-35. Drawing on his experience as a former F-15E pilot who worked alongside A-10s in Afghanistan, Max presents arguments about operating costs, survivability, pilot training focus, and mission-specific capabilities to support keeping the A-10 in service.

Key takeaways

• Max argues the A-10 costs approximately $22,000 per hour to operate compared to $44,000 for the F-35, making it more economical for close air support missions in counterinsurgency operations
• According to Max, the A-10’s GAU-8 Avenger 30mm cannon, firing at 3,900 rounds per minute with 80% hitting within a 20-foot radius, provides unique capabilities for ground support that faster jets like the F-16 and F-35 cannot replicate
• Max recounts that A-10 pilots receive more specialized close air support training (8 initial sorties plus 22 yearly) compared to other fighter aircraft, and he cites Captain Kim Campbell’s 2003 incident as evidence of the aircraft’s exceptional survivability
• Max suggests the A-10 could be repurposed as a drone-killer platform using AIM-9 missiles and joint helmet-mounted cueing systems, offering a cost-effective alternative to using more expensive fighters for counter-drone operations

Episode details: published March 16, 2025 · 13.3K views · 18:04 long. Summary written by Self Growth Videos from the episode itself. The analysis and commentary described are Max Afterburner’s, attributed to him — his channel includes hypothetical-scenario and news-react content, which is presented as his analysis, not established fact.

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