A-10 Thunderbolt II, also known as the “Warthog,” has come into focus after reports that one of the aircraft crashed near the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, around the same time an F-15E Strike Eagle was reportedly shot down over Iran.
How much does the A-10 Warthog cost?
The A-10 Thunderbolt II costs about $18.8 million per aircraft in today’s dollars. This makes it one of the more affordable combat aircraft in the US Air Force, especially given its role in close air support missions.
The cost has changed over time. In the 1970s, the original flyaway cost was about $9.8 million per aircraft. When adjusted for inflation, that comes to around $18.8 million today. The total program cost per aircraft was about $13 million in 1994 dollars, including development.
A total of 716 A-10s were built by Fairchild Republic between 1972 and 1984. As production continued, costs went down due to improved manufacturing.
