US Sends A-10 ‘Warthogs’ to Allied Air Base in Contested South China Sea

The United States has deployed a number of attack aircraft to the Philippines amid persistent tensions in the contested South China Sea. At least four A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft, commonly known as Warthogs, have arrived at Clark Air Base in the Philippines, photos published on Friday by the U.S. Air Force showed. They will conduct integrated training with the Philippine air force through December 15. The Warthog has served with the U.S. Air Force since March 1976. Armed with a 30 mm gun and up to 16,000 pounds of bombs and missiles, the aircraft was originally designed for close air…