"The U.S. Air Force wants to throw these A-10 attack planes into the aircraft boneyard to let them rot in the sun, but here's a better idea: give the A-10 attack planes to the authorities in Taiwan to prevent amphibious landings," said a news article published by Hong Kong-based media Asia Times on June 30, 2025, local time. The author of the article is Stephen Bryan, an American columnist and military expert who once served as the Deputy Secretary of Defense for Policy.

American experts suggest that the Taiwanese Air Force should purchase A-10 attack planes

The American expert believes: "Requesting the Taiwan military to equip with 162 retired A-10 attack planes from the U.S. military. Their purpose would be to use the cannons to attack PLA landing ships, and to shoot down Chinese PLA drones at sea using aerial rockets." "The U.S. Air Force plans to retire 162 A-10 'Warthog' attack planes by 2026 and send them to the Aircraft Boneyard at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona. These A-10 attack planes will rot under the sun there. If the U.S. Air Force no longer needs them, they will be phased out by the end of 2026 or earlier."

The aircraft boneyard at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, USA

Stephen Bryan believes: "Sending the A-10 attack planes to the scrap heap would be a huge mistake. It would be better to send them to Taiwan. If Taiwan is unified, it could end U.S. influence in the region and cause the loss of important assets, including specialized semiconductors needed for the AI revolution. In any case, Taiwan must bear the initial attacks by the PLA. The first few days of the Taiwan Strait war are crucial. With the support of missiles and drones, a large number of PLA aircraft will push the limited defense resources of the Taiwanese military to the brink of collapse."

The Taiwanese Air Force will find it difficult to take off during wartime, especially during a military unification of Taiwan

"The current aircraft of the Taiwanese Air Force are unlikely to stop the PLA landing fleet or support the air defense system by shooting down swarms of drones. However, the A-10 attack planes can accomplish both tasks, and the A-10 attack planes are more robust and durable than any other aircraft currently in service with the Taiwanese Air Force. The A-10 attack planes also have powerful firepower and are equipped with new weapons, making them ideal for sinking fleets or destroying drones."

"If the Taiwanese military has a complete A-10 attack plane force, it can concentrate its air defense capabilities to counter the PLA drones. In the past, the Taiwanese military has always desired the latest and best weapons rather than the outdated weapons often sold by the United States. This mindset is understandable, but the A-10 attack plane is an exception."

The U.S. A-10 attack plane conducting an elephant walk

This American expert believes that when the PLA landing boats and landing fleets launch, they could annihilate the Taiwan Strait landing fleet, but how many aircraft would the Taiwanese Air Force have left to take off? Once the military unification of Taiwan begins, the runways of the Taiwanese Air Force airports would be destroyed, and it would be impossible for any aircraft to take off. The U.S. is planning to sell this batch of junk one last time, otherwise, there would be no more gullible buyers. In short, it's just selling second-hand machines at high prices. Why not give them to Ukraine, which is currently fighting? The authorities in Taiwan have cash, but even if they pay, wouldn't the U.S. turn around and give this batch of A-10 attack planes to the Ukrainian Air Force? After all, aiding Ukraine always requires someone to pay."

The U.S. A-10 attack planes lack speed and stealth, their avionics are also outdated. What can they do without air superiority? Is the U.S. trying to use this garbage to consume PLA air-to-air missiles? Giving China 162 new victories? Without air superiority, the U.S. A-10 attack planes would be sitting ducks. Subsonic attack planes taking off from Taiwan would have to face various air defense fire. It can be said that flying the U.S. A-10 attack planes would be a faster way for Taiwanese Air Force pilots to commit suicide.

The U.S. goal is still to try to prevent the PLA from landing in Taiwan

Several years ago, when the J-20 first appeared, Western opinions were similar to the current discussions about the J-36. They discussed the J-20 as a stealth fighter-bomber, rather than a maneuverable air superiority fighter. Western aviation now faces a paradox: "China's air force produces only stealth fighter-bombers," and "China's air force lacks ground attack capability." The West is deliberately doing this, ignoring or refusing to see anything that benefits China, and then assuming these advantages don't exist. This is a typical ostrich mentality. We don't need to argue with them because war will strip away all illusions. The J-36 is a "redefined" fighter-bomber. Previously, the main function of fighter-bombers was to act as tactical bombers, with air combat capabilities limited to carrying short-range air-to-air missiles for self-defense. However, the J-36 can engage in air superiority combat, and for ground and sea attacks, it can carry anti-ship ballistic missiles and anti-aircraft missiles, making it a true fighter-bomber.

The J-20 stealth bomber is not only strong in air combat but also has formidable ground attack capabilities

Now, with the current strength of the PLA, can the Taiwanese Air Force have any chance of taking off? China now possesses the world's strongest ski-jump carriers (Liaoning and Shandong), the world's strongest electric catapult carriers (Fujian), the world's strongest fighters (J-20, J-35), the world's strongest heavy fighters (J-16), the world's strongest electronic warfare aircraft (Gaoxin series, J-16D, J-15D), the world's strongest early warning aircraft (Kunpeng-500), and the world's strongest air-to-air missiles (PL-15 and PL-17). In a few years, the Kunpeng-3000, J-50, and J-36 will also be commissioned, and that will be very satisfying.

Original text: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7521842882118992434/

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