The A-10 Thunderbolt II is a twin-engine, straight-wing, subsonic attack aircraft built for close air support (CAS), with its primary mission being to destroy tanks, armored vehicles and other ground forces.

In its secondary role as a forward air controller directing other aircraft in ground attacks, it is called the OA-10.

Equipped with targeting pods such as the Sniper, it brings precision through laser designation and rangefinding.

The A-10 has played a key role in modern combat. In Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, A-10s flew 32% of combat sorties.

The sorties ranged from 27,800 to 34,500 annually between 2009 and 2012, and in just the first six months of 2013, they flew 11,189 sorties in Afghanistan.

From the start of 2006 to October 2013, A-10s conducted 19% of CAS missions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

This was more than the F-15E Strike Eagle and B-1B Lancer, but less than the 33% flown by F-16s.

Heavy-duty aerial support

Built for enhanced durability and survivability, the A-10 is capable of enduring damage that would bring down most aircraft.

Its airframe boasts 1,000 lbs (454kg) of titanium armor designed to withstand high-intensity attacks.

A titanium-armored cockpit protects the pilot, and its broad wings and large ailerons give it superior maneuverability at low speeds and altitudes, exactly where CAS is most effective.

Twin high-bypass turbofan engines add to survivability.

Their 6:1 bypass ratio gives the aircraft a relatively small infrared signature.

Combined with exhaust placement over the tailplanes, this further reduces its visibility to infrared homing surface-to-air missiles (SAMs).

Its signature weapon is the GAU-8/A Avenger.

The seven-barrel, 30mm autocannon fires 3,900 rounds per minute, unleashing both armor-piercing and high-explosive shells.

This firepower allows one aircraft to eliminate a dozen tanks in one pass.

Its 11 hardpoints can carry up to 16,000 lbs (approximately 7,200kg) of ordnance, including the Mk-82 and Mk-84 unguided bombs, AGM-65 Maverick air-to-surface missiles, AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, as well as rockets and flares.

The A-10 can loiter for extended periods and operate under 1,000-foot (300-meter) ceilings with 1.5-mile (2.4-km) visibility.

Its comparatively low cruising speed of 300 knots (350 mph; 560 km/h) makes it better suited for ground-attack than faster fighter aircraft, which often have difficulty targeting small, slow-moving targets.

Nicknamed the Warthog, the A-10 is a distinctly rugged aircraft.

Its short take-off and landing capabilities allow operations from austere or makeshift runways, and its simple design enables maintenance with minimal facilities.

This makes the A-10 a key aircraft in the United States Air Force's arsenal, particularly under the Agile Combat Employment framework, which values platforms that offer durability, survivability and flexibility on the battlefield.

Between its resilience and firepower, the A-10 is a crucial platform for supporting ground forces in challenging environments.