Ukraine does not need American A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft, as Kyiv expects to receive more modern aircraft, Yuriy Sak, adviser to the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, said in an interview with the American portal Military.com.

Sak explained that the A-10 attack aircraft would not close the country's airspace and "won't stop the bombers and missiles."

“They will become a target for Russian fighters and air defense, since we do not have the means to provide them with effective cover, or to break through the enemy’s air defense,” said the adviser to the head of the Defense Ministry.

According to him, the Ukrainian authorities hope to receive more modern equipment from the allies, for example, fourth-generation F-16 fighters.

“Almost all of Ukraine's regional partners use the F-16.

Let us recall the support provided to Ukraine for spare parts for the MiG-29.

So, if you replace the MiG-29 with the F-16 ... This is an easy decision, ”said Sak.

retired veteran 

Earlier, US Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall did not rule out the possibility of transferring American attack aircraft to the Kyiv regime.

At a security forum in Colorado, a moderator asked him if Ukraine could be provided with A-10s that the US Air Force is phasing out.

“This is mostly a question for Ukraine itself.

For older US systems, there is a possibility... We will be open to discussing what their needs are and how we could meet them, ”Kendall explained.

The A-10 Thunderbolt, also known as the Warthog ("Warthog"), is a single-seat, twin-engine attack aircraft manufactured by the Fairchild Republic, designed for close air fire support for ground forces, destroying tanks, armored vehicles and other ground targets.

The closest analogue of this aircraft is the Su-25 attack aircraft.

Production of the A-10 began in 1975, with a total of over 700 such machines built in various modifications.

These aircraft were actively used by the US Air Force during the Gulf War and for NATO strikes against Yugoslavia, as well as during the US and international coalition invasion of Iraq in 2003 and subsequent hostilities in this country.

The main armament of the Warthog is a seven-barreled 30 mm GAU-8/A aircraft gun, which is distinguished by its high power and rate of fire.

Video footage of the use of the A-10 with the destruction of targets from this gun, which emits a characteristic sound when fired, has become circulated on social networks.

In addition, the attack aircraft can carry Mk-82 and Mk-84 aerial bombs, incendiary cluster bombs, dropped mines, as well as AGM-65 Maverick and AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles.

  • A-10 Thunderbolt II

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Military.com notes that, despite its venerable age, the A-10 "fell in love with the troops because it could carry a fair amount of ammunition and withstand significant damage, while still getting to its destination."

The US military leadership has repeatedly announced plans to withdraw the A-10 from service, but for one reason or another, they have not yet been implemented.

For example, in 2016, the then Chief of Staff of the US Air Force, General David Goldfein, stated that the US Air Force had decided to leave the old, but effective attack aircraft in service, including because of the "resurgent Russia."

At the same time, the venerable age of the A-10 greatly complicates their operation.

So, in 2018, Popular Mechanics magazine reported that more than a third of the fleet of these attack aircraft could become unusable due to problems with components, in particular with the wing.

Ridiculous Requests

In early June, US Ambassador to NATO Julianne Smith said that Washington was not considering the possibility of supplying the Kyiv regime with F-16 fighter jets.

In a commentary to Air Force Magazine, she noted that the Pentagon is conducting regular negotiations with Ukraine on its needs regarding weapons and military equipment, but the position of the United States and its partners, which excludes the supply of aircraft to Kyiv, has not changed.

At the same time, analysts believe that the supply of not only Western fighters of the latest generations, but also older aircraft lies in the realm of fantasies of the Kyiv regime, so its preferences are unlikely to affect anything.

“You can fantasize endlessly.

Even deliveries of aircraft such as the A-10 are expensive.

Requests for more modern aviation equipment look ridiculous, ”Dmitry Litovkin, editor of the Independent Military Review newspaper, said in a conversation with RT.

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He recalled that the current supply of Western weapons to Ukraine are “goodwill gestures” and Kyiv is not in a position to make such demands.

“No one will supply any fighters to Ukraine, because the retraining of pilots for their operation is a long process.

In addition, it has already become obvious that Western equipment tends to end up on Russian territory, and the United States is unlikely to want the same A-10 attack aircraft to end up in Kubinka for disassembly by the Russian military, ”the analyst explained.

Military expert Oleksandr Khrolenko was also surprised by the new demands from Ukraine.

“The arrogance of the Kyiv regime, especially considering that it is a puppet, is over the top.

There have not yet been such precedents in politics and diplomacy, ”said the interlocutor of RT.

From his point of view, the United States is not inclined to transfer modern weapons to Ukraine in the volumes required by Kyiv and is trying to supply obsolete weapons through third countries.

“Ukraine needs to thank the West for any handout, given that tomorrow this Kyiv regime may not exist.

They don't have to pay for it - they just run away.

The requirements of some strictly defined models resemble a fraudulent scheme, a preparation for the future: “We asked you for F-16 fighters, but you didn’t give it, so we lost the war with Russia and are not to blame,” Khrolenko believes.

According to him, replicating such statements in the Western media, Ukrainian officials are engaged in media activity designed to divert the attention of the audience from the difficult situation in which the Kyiv regime finds itself.

“They are suffering catastrophic losses, and they cannot not know this.

Therefore, there is a game for the public, constant promises of quick victories (including those designed for an external audience), which are necessary for weapons and financial supplies, ”concluded Khrolenko.