Special to WorldTribune.com
An aircraft designed during the Cold War as a Soviet “tank killer” is now part of the U.S.-led coalition fighting Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL).
The Pentagon confirmed on Oct. 20 that the U.S. deployed at least six A-10 Thunderbolt ground-attack warplanes to Turkey’s Incirlik air base.
“There are A-10s arriving in Incirlik and I don’t have the exact number,” Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook said. “This was part of a regular rotation that was planned.” Some reports put the number of A-10s deployed at 12.
The Air Force had planned to retire the A-10, also known as the Warthog, which has been praised by infantry units as an effective close air support weapon.
Experts believe the slower, low-flying A-10s will be more effective against ISIL and in support of Syrian Arab and Kurdish fighters.
Turkey lifted restrictions on the use of its air bases in August. Since then, the U.S. has sent six F-16s and 300 airmen of the 31st Fighter Wing from Aviano Air Base in Italy to Incirlik.
U.S. deploys ground-attack A-10s to Turkey for air campaign against ISIL added by World Tribune on
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