The U.S. military deploys 18 additional A-10 attack aircraft to the Middle East

Ask AI · What is the connection between the U.S. expanding A-10 deployments and Trump’s war timeline?

On April 1, local time, CCTV reporters learned that the U.S. Department of Defense is increasing the size of its A-10 attack aircraft fleet deployed in the Middle East by a factor of two. It is understood that these aircraft mainly support ground forces’ advancing combat operations. Previously, U.S. President Trump said he wanted to end the war with Iran within two to three weeks.

Two Pentagon officials disclosed that day that the U.S. Air Force is sending 18 A-10 attack aircraft to the Middle East, joining the dozen-plus aircraft of the same type already in that region. Earlier, U.S. commanders had used these aircraft to attack Iranian ships and militia forces supported by Iran inside Iraq.

Based on flight-tracking data and information provided by defense officials, these A-10 attack aircraft taking off from the U.S. mainland all made a transit stop during their journey to the Middle East at the Royal Air Force Lakenheath base in England. Analysts believe these aircraft may help U.S. forces seize areas along the Strait of Hormuz coastline, or they may be used to seize Iran’s main oil hub, Khark Island.

The A-10 attack aircraft flies at low altitude and slow speed, and is capable of hovering over land and maritime targets for long periods of time. However, compared with fighter jets, A-10 attack aircraft are more vulnerable when facing air-defense firepower. According to analysis by U.S. media, the U.S. military’s move to increase its A-10 attack aircraft indicates that Iran’s strategic air-defense systems may already have been severely damaged. (CCTV reporter Zhu Lei)

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