On Wednesday, the news broke that the Pentagon would not mothball the much loved A-10 Thunderbolt, or "Warthog," as it has come to be known.
The debate surrounding the A-10, a Cold War-era close air support air frame, has drawn heated rhetoric from senators and top military brass as well as common foot soldiers.
The Pentagon's decision to keep the A-10 in service through 2017 shows that even in a time when technology is redefining the battle space, proven platforms like the A-10 still have a meaningful role in the military.
Below are some of the reasons why the A-10 inspires hope in US troops, fear in their enemies, and can't be counted out of the fight just yet.
SEE ALSO: Behold the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter and all of its weapons
The A-10 is essentially a flying gun. The air frame is built around a 19-foot-long, 4,000 pound GAU-8 30 mm auto cannon that fires at a blistering rate of 65 rounds per second.
The A-10's cannon makes a distinctive "BRRRT" sound while being fired faster than the speed of sound. "The aircraft sparked panic in the ranks of ISIS after bombing its elements and flying in spaces close to the ground," Iraqi News reported. Listen to the sound in the video below.
http://www.youtube.com/embed/E4fkGa6Istw
Width: 840px
Height: 630px
Source: We are the Mighty
Here's what the A-10's GAU-8 cannon rounds look like on an armored vehicle:
See the rest of the story at Business Insider