Tri-Service

The Antique Planes Brought Out Of Retirement To Fight Daesh

Two OV-10 Bronco aircraft used in the Vietnam War have been brought out of retirement to help US forces fighting Daesh in Iraq.

The propeller-driven planes are reported to have conducted 134 sorties during 82 days in spring 2015, including 120 combat missions.

The US military is thought to be testing the Broncos' ability to help ground troops fight insurgents, with the aircraft considerably cheaper to operate than the F-15s and F/A-18s which carry out most of the airstrikes in the countries.

The OV-10 can operate for just $1,000 per hour in the air, while F-15s can cost up to $40,000 per flight.

A US Navy Bronco attacking a target with a rocket in South Vietnam

Air Force Capt. P. Bryant Davis, a Central Command spokesman, told The Daily Beast that the military's goal was to "determine if properly employed turboprop driven aircraft… would increase synergy and improve the coordination between the aircrew and ground commander."

It's thought the aircraft were being used to assist special forces fighting Daesh on the ground, with US Central Command having admitted that the Broncos were part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the American-led operation against the extremists in Syria and Iraq, but not confirming where they were based or the targets they attacked.

The planes, which can take off at extreme short notice and fly very low, are capable of carrying machine guns with 2,000 rounds and Sidewinder air-to-air missiles.

The weaponry could have been used to attack extremist fighters before they could flee ground troops.

Developed in the 1960s as a small and cheap attack plane, the OV-10 became a useful asset in Vietnam because of its ability to take off from rough airfields near the battlefront.

An OV-10 during trials aboard USS Saratoga in 1985

It was used to make observations before air raids, as well as for light attack purposes, with the highly-adaptable planes proving highly successful and performing dozens of missions for both the US Navy and Air Force.

The US Navy retired its OV-10s after the conflict, while the Air Force replaced them with the-jet powered A-10.

81 Broncos were lost in Vietnam, but they've continued to be used by forces across the world.

Their rugged, reliable, and deadly nature was deployed to devastating effect by the Philippines in its counterinsurgency campaign against Islamic militants, whilst they were in high demand from paramilitary and civilian operators, such as firefighting agencies.

Broncos helped tackle the 2007 California wildfires. Picture: Alan Radecki

The planes can carry up to two crew members, with a maximum speed of 281mph.

The two used in Iraq and Syria are thought to have either come from NASA, who used the retired planes for airborne tests, or the State Department, who had sent them to Columbia in the fight against the drugs trade.

And according to Davis the OV-10s famously reliable nature was evident in their 82 days of combat, with 99 per cent of their planned missions completed.