When troops report they are taking enemy fire, the one aircraft they love to see screaming to the rescue is the A-10 Thunderbolt, nicknamed "The Warthog."
First introduced in 1977, the plane was designed for close air support and is extremely tough — able to withstand small arms fire from the ground while supporting the infantry with its Maverick missiles and massive 30mm Gatling gun.
"There's something about 30 mm [high-explosive rounds] being fired at over 4000 rounds per minute that makes me happy," one Marine combat veteran told Business Insider last year.
But sadly, its getting the ax— forced into retirement as part of the 2015 budget in favor of the still-in-development (and problematic) F-35 Lightning.
Troops love it and the enemy fears it— and after you hear its terrifying and distinctive sound in the video, you'll understand why.
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