A-10 Warthog Gets Crazy New Gig: Hunting Cheap Drones Over US Nuclear Bases

**A-10 Warthog Gets Crazy New Gig: Hunting Cheap Drones Over US Nuclear Bases** The U.S. military is dusting off its aging A-10 "Warthog" attack jets to solve a massive new headache: defending American bases from swarms of cheap drones. Most military installations inside the United States lack any dedicated air defense, leaving them vulnerable to low-flying drones that can easily evade expensive missile systems designed to stop ballistic missiles [111656]. The proposed solution is to repurpose the heavily armored Cold War-era aircraft—famous for its massive 30mm cannon—to patrol the skies above sensitive sites like nuclear bases, using its cannons, missiles, and sensors to hunt drone swarms [111656]. The shift comes amid a broader push by the Pentagon to defend its legal authority for military actions worldwide. The Department of Defense is defending new rules restricting media access, citing national security in a lawsuit brought by The New York Times [64596]. Meanwhile, Senate Republicans are moving to block a Democratic effort to repeal the 2001 war powers resolution used to justify "Operation Absolute Resolve," a recent military action in Venezuela under former President Donald Trump [50051]. Republicans argue the repeal would weaken presidential authority, highlighting deep political divisions over war powers [50051]. In Germany, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius forcefully rejected suggestions that the NATO alliance is in decline, stating its nuclear deterrent remains "fundamentally necessary" for European security [73966]. "I am not prepared to bury the alliance before it has died," he said, reaffirming Germany's commitment to the transatlantic partnership [73966]. At the tactical level, the Pentagon has publicly defended a senior commander’s decision to authorize recent military strikes in Venezuela, stating that Admiral Bradley’s actions followed "proper legal procedures" and were approved by lawyers throughout the chain of command [17258]. In a separate incident, U.S. Secretary of Defense John Hegseth defended a naval engagement where forces struck the same boat twice, attributing the decision to the "fog of war" and the need to "eliminate the threat" [17273]. Elsewhere, Somali security forces thwarted an Al-Shabaab infiltration attempt near the key forested region of Lower Shabelle, working together with the National Intelligence and Security Agency [37883]. And Turkish defense company ASELSAN released test footage of its GOKSUR Close-In Air Defense System, designed to protect naval vessels from low-flying "sea-skimming" missiles by creating a dense defensive wall of gunfire [19638]. Old Jet, New Mission: A-10 Warthog Eyed for US Base Defense Against Drones Pentagon Cites National Security in Media Lawsuit Defense Senate Republicans Move to Shield Trump's War Powers German Defense Minister: Burying NATO is "Not an Option" Pentagon Defends Commander's Decision in Venezuela Strikes Pentagon Defends Second Strike in "Fog of War" Incident Al-Shabaab Infiltration Attempt Thwarted in Somali Forest ASELSAN Unveils GOKSUR: New Turkish Naval Defense System Targets Advanced Missiles