Ukraine requested A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft weeks after Russian invasion, but was denied

The Ukrainian Defence Ministry has requested A-10 Thunderbolt jets from the Pentagon almost immediately after the Russian invasion. This was announced by the head of the defense ministry, Oleksiy Reznikov.

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Since February 24, the position of the United States regarding the arms to be supplied has changed dramatically. While initially the U.S. sent mainly Stinger and Javelin to Ukraine, the latest aid package included batteries of Patriot surface-to-air missile systems.

Nine months have passed since the large-scale invasion. During this time Ukraine has received Western air defense systems, multiple rocket launchers and other weapons, but not aircraft.

The Ukrainian defense minister stated that the U.S. had 100 surplus A-10 Thunderbolt II planes. They could have been useful in destroying a Russian convoy of military equipment, which at the time was located several dozen kilometers from Kiev.

The U.S. Air Force had 49 A-10A aircraft and 51 A-10C aircraft as of November. However, some of them are not in combat-ready condition, as they were regularly disassembled for parts. The U.S. Air Force has 281 A-10C Thunderbolt II attack aircraft in service. Production of the aircraft ended in 1984.

The advantage of The Warthog is that it can carry heavy bombs, destroying columns of Russian armored vehicles. The plane is also equipped with a 30-mm GAU-8/A Avenger cannon.

According to Reznikov, the head of the Pentagon, Lloyd Austin, rejected the request of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry. He argued that the planes would become an easy target for Russian air defenses.

Despite the fact that in nine months the US and allies did not provide a single aircraft to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, they continue to provide assistance. In particular, U.S. specialists helped to integrate AGM-88 HARM anti-radar missiles into Soviet MiG-29 fighters.

Source: The Washington Post