Ukraine’s AN-28 gunship is killing Shaheds the way America never did
BY Herschel Smith
3 weeks, 3 days ago
Video here.
So we need something much slower than the sexy jets the AF boys like to fly, huh?
Hey, on a related subject, the final A-10 units inactivate at Davis-Monthan.
Because America is stupid. And I don’t want to hear that we need to shut down the A-10 program because those aircraft are slow and vulnerable to SAMs, and besides that, the AF boys want to fly sexy jets. Sexy jets are vulnerable to SAMs too.
You can’t argue to shut down the A-10 program while at the same time discussing a slower prop aircraft for things like UAVs (like the defense establishment has been). It just doesn’t work with me.
On September 21, 2026 at 5:04 pm, Dan said:
It’s about money….and how much of it can be siphoned off into corrupt pockets. Actual military usefulness is irrelevant. Been that way since the end of WW 2….probably longer.
On September 22, 2026 at 12:01 am, Georgiaboy61 said:
The A-10 Thunderbolt II a.k.a. “The Warthog” – is arguably the most-successful ground-attack aircraft ever flown. Not to mention one of the finest ever values for the taxpayer on a cost per unit and effectiveness basis. So of course, the U.S.A.F. “fighter mafia” are going to retire it.
Words fail me, they really do. Is the Pentagon working for the Chinese or something?
On September 22, 2026 at 3:31 pm, Paul B said:
Pentagon is about feathering personal nests. Has nothing to do with defense or preparedness.
We are living in the apex of any civilization right now. Once it crashes we will be sad, but not surprised.
On September 24, 2026 at 6:16 pm, BAP45 said:
The A-10 hate drives me nuts. Its was a purpose built aircraft and the argument is to replace it with an aircraft built for an entirely different purpose every time it comes up.
On September 27, 2026 at 9:30 pm, Clyde said:
You know captain, I’ve been reading your columns since your boy came back from Iraq. I told you about trails to try in Western NC when you were on your mountain biking kick. I rarely responded to columns, keeping to holsters and mountain biking trails. I finally respond in an area that is truly in my expertise, and…
Directing comments directly at readers in public is unbecoming. Don’t bother responding, I won’t bother coming back. Sad.
On September 28, 2026 at 9:37 am, Herschel Smith said:
@Clyde,
I have no earthly idea what you’re talking about. Maybe you do.
On September 29, 2026 at 2:59 am, Plague Monk said:
I’m reluctantly going to disagree with you on retiring the A-10. I worked on it briefly as a 462 weapons mechanic, along withe F-4D Phantom with the gun pod, and nearly 40 years later as a Tech Lead avionics designer near the end of my career.
The A-10 was a good aircraft for it’s time, but after 1990 Desert Storm, it should have been retired. It was a nightmare to work on.
In my next to last contract, I was tasked with designing avionics modules for a variety of both military and civilian aircraft. Of all the aircraft I worked on, the A-10 was the worst as far as layout, specs, and other considerations. I won’t go into any detail, per my NDA, but what a piece of garbage to work on, compared with aircraft such as the F-22 and Osprey.
Time to remove the guns from all fixed wing aircraft; let the US army have it, and give them lots of baling wire and duct tape.
It cannot survive a modern air defense environment, even that of a 3rd or 4th world country.
Just my cranky 2 cents…
On October 2, 2026 at 12:54 pm, Cpl , No! said:
@Clyde
The fuck , you forgot your meds. Wtf are you talking about. Shit or get off the pot. All these stupid innuendos.
On October 5, 2026 at 5:58 am, Bill Buppert said:
Plague Monk is correct, it’s why the Su-25 Frogfoot is seeing no action in the Ukraine, technology has moved on and ground attack aircraft like rotary wing attack birds like the Apache are no longer viable in the missile and UAS environment of the 21st century.
The Osprey is also a useless eater now in the inventory.