The A-10 refueled and rearmed on a public highway for the first time

By Miguel Ortiz

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A military aircraft, specifically an A-10 Thunderbolt II, is captured mid-flight just above a runway surrounded by dense green trees. The plane's landing gear is extended, and the sky is clear with some scattered clouds. The scene includes a grassy area beside the runway and another aircraft visible in the distance on the left side.

In 2021, the Air Force validated its ability to land modern aircraft, including the A-10 Thunderbolt II, on a public highway and send them back up into the air. On June 29, 2022, the Air Force expanded on this capability by performing the first refueling and rearming on a public U.S. highway.

A gray A-10 Thunderbolt II military aircraft is landing or taking off on a runway surrounded by green trees, with its landing gear extended and engines visible on either side of the fuselage.
An A-10 on Highway M-28 during Northern Agility 22-1 (U.S. Air Force)

Northern Agility 22-1 was an exercise led by the Michigan Air National Guard in the state’s Upper Peninsula. In Alger County, a 9,000-foot stretch of Michigan Highway M-28 was closed off to support integrated combat turns for multiple aircraft. ICTs enable the quick rearming and refueling of a running jet.

Two military personnel in camouflage uniforms and protective gear are handling a large bomb on a wheeled cart beneath the wing of an aircraft. The bomb is secured with red safety tags, and the scene is set outdoors with trees in the background.
Airmen perform an ICT on an A-10 on Highway M-28 (U.S. Air Force)

In addition to Air National Guard A-10s, the exercise involved an Air Force Special Operations Command MC-12W Liberty and C-145A Combat Coyote as well as an Air Force Reserve U-28A Draco and C-146A Wolfhound. All aircraft successfully landed, performed ICTs, and took back off from Highway M-28. The exercise demonstrated the Air Force’s Agile Combat Employment doctrine to execute missions quickly and in unpredictable ways.

A military jet aircraft is captured mid-takeoff, just above a runway surrounded by dense green trees on both sides. The aircraft is facing directly towards the camera, with its landing gear still extended. The sky is clear with some scattered clouds in the background.
A-10s landed, refueled, rearmed, and took back off from Highway M-28 (U.S. Air Force)

During the exercise, the landing zone was designated LZ Hawk. This was done in honor of Maj. Durwood “Hawk” Jones, an F-16 pilot from the Wisconsin Air National Guard’s 115th Fighter Wing. Maj. Jones lost his life during a training mishap in Michigan on December 8, 2020.

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Miguel Ortiz

Senior Contributor, US Army Veteran

Miguel Ortiz graduated from San Diego State University and commissioned as an Army Officer in 2017. His passion for military culture and history led him to freelance writing. He specializes in interesting and obscure military history. When he’s not writing, Miguel enjoys traveling and watch collecting.

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