A-10 Digital Makeover

Years ago, before the Gulf War, the U.S. Air Force was trying their best to deep-six the A-10 Thunderbolt II. The plane stuck sideways in their craw, being a pure ground support plane. "Not a pound for the ground," and all that hooey. Procuring and operating the A-10 was the price they had to pay for wrenching fixed-wing flight privileges away from the Army during the Big Split following Dubya-Dubya-Two.

Nearly 20 years on, it turns out the A-10 is by far the most useful combat aircraft the Air Farce posessess -- much to their dismay, I'm sure. Nonetheless, they're taking their medicine like good little fly-boys and finally updating the aircraft with much-needed digital systems. This upgrade will extend its service life, but even more importantly expand upon its usefulness to the people who actually win wars -- the grunts. Not that I'm biased, of course...