How the A-10 Warthog Is Enforcing the Hormuz Blockade

How is the A-10 Warthog enforcing the naval blockade at the Strait of Hormuz? The US Air Force sent a 1972 tank killer not the F-35, not the F/A-18 to hold the world's most critical chokepoint. This is how the A-10C Thunderbolt II does what no other jet can.

Airpower Decoded breaks down the physics of Operation Epic Fury's blockade enforcement. The Strait of Hormuz imposes five constraints on any aircraft that patrols it: loiter endurance, low-altitude targeting against Iranian Peykaap fast attack craft, titanium armor survivability against MANPADS, a full escalation ladder from visual presence to GAU-8 engagement, and a cost sustainable enough to fly around the clock. We run the F-35, F/A-18 Super Hornet, MQ-9 Reaper, and P-8 Poseidon through all five. Only one passes.

#USAirForce #A10Warthog #AirpowerDecoded #IranBlockade #MilitaryAviation #OperationEpicFury #closeairsupport

Timestamps:
0:00 Four Options. Two Are Gone.
2:24 Enforcing ≠ Hunting
3:31 21 Miles. One Aircraft.
6:30 Fly Low or See Nothing
9:32 The Escalation Ladder
13:13 Five Constraints. One Answer.
15:59 Who Replaces the Warthog?