You know, one of the realizations one has in combat, is the real value of the different weapons.

These days, it’s all electronic. Advanced fighter aircrafts, space surveillance and so on. The drones are the new threat, the Shahed drones specifically.

But when it comes down to business, what weapon is really decisive?

The old bathtub, the loitering “warthog”, the A 10. An aeroplane that was supposed to be decommissioned ages ago, but still somehow seems to loiter on (pun intended).

Why is this? There are several reasons. First of all electronics is in itself a weakness. An aeroplane can be hacked, and blown from the sky. An old bathtub with manual steering and two extra hydraulic steering system, is SAFE from the hackers.

Secondly, the reality is, that aeroplanes most often shoot at something on the ground. Be it military installations, munitions, other planes or troops. So a plane that is SPECIFICALLY designed with that aim in mind, is naturally superior.

Then there is the advantage over drones. Where most advanced aeroplanes fly very fast, the opportunity to gun down swarms of Shahed drones is limited. Not the warthog, it can gun down a whole swarm. Making the cheap drone be met with a cheap countermeasure.

So the APPLICATION of the plane matches the reality of the combat scenario.

All in all, America should definitely rethink its design philosophy after this war in terms of aviation. Maybe that Gatling gun with a plane around it, is what America truly is; 110% American made (the Gatling gun is an American invention), rugged, reliable and a really good fighting machine. They used to say; send in the cavalry. They should really be saying; send in the Warthog.

So, there are some really good lessons learned there.

It also COMPLEMENTS the aerial assault philosophy much better than what I had anticipated. We get to do real ground combat with minimal investment in terms of lives and material.

It will only work WITHIN a modern war faring organization. But it teaches us to remember some virtues that are stil worth remembering. Toughness, reliability, home made, gritness.

And it teaches us that the CULTURAL element is still what wins wars in the long run. Not just geeks with an iPad.

G-d bless the American warthog, may it still be in use.