The Time the Air Force Tried to Put an A-10 Cannon on an F-16

The Time the Air Force Tried to Put an A-10 Cannon on an F-16

PUBLISHED on August 15, 2025, 6:42 AM EDT – Key Points and Summary: In the late 1980s, the U.S. Air Force, concerned about the A-10 Warthog’s survivability, attempted to create a more nimble close air support platform by strapping a 30mm cannon to an F-16. -The resulting A-16 and F/A-16 concepts aimed to combine the F-16’s speed with the A-10’s legendary firepower. However, combat trials during Operation Desert Storm proved the idea a failure. T…