Through post-shot analysis of video, photo imagery, and visual inspection of the targets, analysts were able to ascertain the battle damage inflicted upon the tanks and determine that the tanks were rendered inoperative, the press office of the 53rd Wing reported.
The pilots varied attack parameters and direction in order to evaluate the weapon’s effects against the up-armored targets. In each of the test missions, a pair of A-10Cs employing armor-piercing incendiary rounds took to the test range and fired at two surrogate main battle tanks equipped with ERA. The first-ever tests were conducted at the Nevada Test and Training Range, February 14-25, 2022 – and the 422nd and 59th Test and Evaluation Squadrons successfully proved that modern-day armored vehicles equipped with Explosive Reactive Armor were still vulnerable to the A-10C Thunderbolt II’s GAU-8 Avenger. Earlier this year, the United States Air Force demonstrated how the aircraft, which has also earned the nickname “Warthog” among its pilots, is able to knock out modern tanks equipped with armor improvements. And yet, a recent test might give those who support the A-10 a little more hope: The Fairchild A-10 Thunderbolt II was tailor-made for close-air support, and with its unique GAU-8/A Avenger 30mm (1.18-inch) cannon, it has proved to be among the most effective anti-tank aircraft ever devised.
There are many scholars and experts that say the A-10 Warthog can’t survive in a modern war like the one being waged in Ukraine.
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