9 reasons we love the A-10 European TSP

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Ryan Crane
  • USAFE-AFAFRICA Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  We LOVE the European theater security packages and since the very first TSP is on its way home from a tremendously successful deployment, we wanted to get a little nostalgic on why we loved the A-10's time here.

9. Flying low and slow

The A-10C Thunderbolt II was designed to fly low and slow allowing it to employ its main weapon system, the GAU-8 Avenger Gatling-type cannon. The A-10's ability to fly at slower speeds means that it can "loiter" longer during a close air support mission.



8. This is the first time a theater security package has deployed to Europe... EVER!

Pacific Air Forces has been deploying aircraft in a TSP configuration since 2004, but 2015 was the first year Europe has seen the same deployments. "This operation will remain a construct here as long as it is needed," said Gen. Darryl Roberson, previous 3rd Air Force commander.



7. Working and flying with our NATO allies

We couldn't do what we do without the support and involvement of our NATO allies, so getting to work and fly with them while the A-10s are deployed here is invaluable. It also affords both the US and our allies CAS training that may otherwise be hard to come by.



6. Air refueling over Europe just looks so cool!

Air refueling is a key mission set that the U.S. Air Force has, and it just looks so awesome when the A-10 flies up to your boom with that big gun in your face.



5. Looking down the barrel of that GAU-8 Avenger

Speaking of that big gun... how intimidating is that thing? The A-10 can hold 1,350 30mm rounds and is capable of unloading all of those in just over 20 seconds. Talk about scary.



4. Getting to see familiar tail flashes back in Germany

Did you know that 11 of the 12 A-10s over here with the 'DM' tail flash were originally assigned to Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany? The 81st Fighter Squadron was assigned to Spangdahlem from 1973 until 2013. We loved the opportunity to organize this little family reunion.



3. Marking off a bunch of new countries on our bucket list

The A-10s mission here was to reassure allies and they can't very well do that if they don't forward deploy to those countries, so that is exactly what they did. During their stay they deployed to or flew in France, Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia... Whew! That's a laundry list of countries in such a short period of time.



2. TSP never stops

You think this TSP thing was 'one and done'? Wrong! About a month after the A-10s arrived, we brought over 12 F-15C Eagles from the Air National Guard to support the same mission. Think we are going to stop there? Wrong again! We have another round of TSP aircraft arriving this Fall. But you have to stay tuned to find out which ones and from where.



1. BRRRRRRRRRRRTTTT

You know we had to do it. The best part about the A-10s flying in Europe is hearing that gun just destroy targets before you can even hear the gun go off. I'm sorry we can't hear you over the sound of....