The US Air Force wants to reduce the number of A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft in use. Aircraft with an average age of 40 are vulnerable to modern anti-aircraft defenses, writes 19FortyFive.

It is noted that the American attack aircraft will not be able to prove itself in modern conflicts with an equal opponent. “The A-10 is a relatively slow aircraft, and Air Force officials have expressed concern that it will be vulnerable to modern air defenses, including those used by China or Russia,” the publication said.

Proponents of the attack aircraft argue that the US Air Force does not have an aircraft that can also perform the task of the A-10. During the Persian Gulf War, American attack aircraft made 8,100 sorties and completed 95.7 percent of their combat missions.