The A-10 Thunderbolt II "Warthog" costs approximately $18.8 million per aircraft in current dollars. This price makes the A-10 one of the most affordable combat aircraft in the U.S. Air Force inventory, especially considering its devastating effectiveness in close air support missions.
Unit Cost Breakdown
The A-10's acquisition cost has varied over the production run:
- Original flyaway cost (1970s): Approximately $9.8 million per aircraft
- Adjusted for inflation: Approximately $18.8 million in current dollars
- Total program cost per aircraft: Approximately $13 million (1994 dollars) including development
Fairchild Republic built 716 A-10s between 1972 and 1984. The production run's length allowed costs to decrease as manufacturing processes improved.
Operating Costs
The A-10's real value becomes apparent when examining operating costs:
- Cost per flight hour: Approximately $6,000
- Cost per flying hour (full accounting): Approximately $17,716
- Annual operating cost per aircraft: Approximately $4.5 million
Compare this to the F-35A at roughly $35,000 per flight hour or the F-22 at approximately $68,000 per flight hour. The A-10 delivers devastating firepower at a fraction of the cost of modern stealth aircraft.
Why the A-10 Is Cost-Effective
Several design decisions keep the A-10 affordable:
- Simple design: The A-10 uses straightforward systems designed for reliability and maintainability
- Twin engines: The TF34 turbofan engines are proven, reliable, and relatively inexpensive to maintain
- Rugged construction: While the titanium cockpit tub adds cost, the overall design minimizes maintenance requirements
- Long service life: Many A-10s have served for over 40 years, spreading development costs across decades
Upgrade Costs
The Air Force has invested in keeping the A-10 capable:
- A-10C upgrade: The precision engagement upgrade cost approximately $420 million total for the fleet
- Wing replacement program: New wings cost approximately $1.1 million per aircraft
- Avionics upgrades: Various modernization efforts have extended capability and service life
These upgrades are far cheaper than replacing the A-10 with a new aircraft type. The Air Force has repeatedly attempted to retire the A-10 to save money, only to find that no other aircraft matches its close air support effectiveness at its price point.
Cost vs. Value
The A-10's cost-effectiveness becomes clear in combat. During Operation Desert Storm, A-10s destroyed over 900 tanks, 2,000 military vehicles, and 1,200 artillery pieces. The GAU-8 Avenger cannon alone provides firepower that would cost far more to deliver by other means.
For ground troops under fire, the A-10's combination of firepower, loiter time, and survivability delivers value that's difficult to quantify in dollars.
Learn more about this legendary aircraft in our complete A-10 Warthog guide or discover why the A-10 is nicknamed Warthog.
