A-10C Thunderbolt II attack aircraft landed at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, last week in support of Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR), the coalition campaign against ISIL.
A U.S. Air Force pilot steps out of an A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft shortly after arriving at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey Oct. 15, 2015. The 12 A-10 Thunderbolt IIs are deployed to Incirlik AB in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. The aircraft is deployed to Incirlik AB in an effort to enhance the international Coalition against ISIL. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Cory Bush
“There’s nothing special or magical about the actual platform, right? It’s the ability to conduct strikes when we need them and where we need them. [The] A-10 is just another platform in this case.”
The 12 A-10s, 300 personnel, and deployed support equipment from Moody Air Force Base, Georgia arrived at Incirlik Oct. 15. The Warthogs of the 74th Squadron, 23rd Fighter Wing, are replacing six F-16s of the 31st Fighter Wing out of Aviano Air Base, Italy, which deployed to Incirlik in early August. The replacement of six F-16s with 12 A-10s has led to some speculation among the press that it is a sign of a new offensive against ISIL, or changing tactical conditions.
“These A-10s are replacing some F-16s that were rotating out,” said OIR Spokesman Col. Steve Warren in a press briefing. “It’s just that simple. This is normal rotation of forces. There’s nothing special or magical about the actual platform, right? It’s the ability to conduct strikes when we need them and where we need them. [The] A-10 is just another platform in this case.”