Known affectionately as the "Warthog" because of its rugged looks, the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II was designed to fulfill a close support and battlefield interdiction role after lessons in Vietnam proved that fighter-bombers were somewhat lacking in this regard. Furthermore, the only dedicated close support aircraft in the US inventory was the A-1, a 1940s piston-engined design that despite packing a powerful punch was by then obsolete. The result was a rather unconventional design for a late Cold War jet, namely in its straight wing design with twin-fin tails. The engines also were mounted on pylons above the real fuselage rather than integrated into the airframe. However, this configuration gave it excellent slow speed maneuverability and protected the engines from ground fire. The twin-fin tails also helped shield the exhaust, making it more difficult to be detected by IR missiles. Like its name-sake World War II predecessor, the A-10 is also extremely well armored and highly resistant to enemy fire thanks to a titanium armor-plated cockpit and a redundant flight control system; in combat A-10s have absorbed an incredible amount of damage and still being able to return to base. Added to this is a considerable payload and ability to carry a wide array of weaponry including rockets, Maverick missiles, and laser-guided bombs thanks to an Pave Penny laser spot tracker. Most impressive, however, is the nose-mounted 30-mm GAU-8/A Gatling gun that can knock out tanks. Despite the end of the Cold War threatening its existence, the A-10 proved to be a devastating ground-attacker in the Gulf War where they knocked out an estimated 900 enemy tanks, more than any other aircraft. It has remained in the USAF arsenal ever since, performing sterling work in every conflict. Despite an initial intention of having it replaced by the F-35, it was later realized that the latter aircraft would not perform adequately in the close support role, leaving the A-10's survival well into the twenty-first century assured.

First flight of the production A-10A was on 21 October 1975. The A-10A was gradually upgraded throughout its service life through the addition of the Pave Penny pod, an inertial navigation system (INS), and in the 1990s, a nav-attack system. Aircraft used for forward air control duties are designated OA-10A. A more through upgrade known as Precision Engagement added a new glass cockpit with HOTAS controls, support for more advanced targeting pods, and support for a wider range of munitions. Upgraded aircraft are known as the A-10C.