A-10 Thunderbolt IIClose air support attack aircraftSide: United States and Afghan government forcesBuilt: Fairchild Republic Co. / United StatesThe A-10 Thunderbolt II is a U.S. single-seat, twin-engine attack aircraft built around close air support, austere operations, survivability, and the 30 mm GAU-8/A cannon. U.S. military sources document A-10C use in Operation Inherent Resolve against ISIS and in Afghanistan during Operation Freedom's Sentinel, where its loiter time, precision weapons, and cannon gave commanders a dedicated low-altitude support platform.Conflict archive
War in Afghanistan Weapons and Equipment
The U.S.-led and Afghan government war against the Taliban and allied militant groups, including post-2015 Operation Freedom's Sentinel and Afghan security-force support.
This archive tracks weapon systems documented in the War in Afghanistan during the catalog's post-2015 research scope.
Entries emphasize direct evidence of use, deployment, or fielding by U.S.-led and Afghan government forces or Taliban-aligned forces.
3 weapon systemsCategory
Aircraft & UAVs
Crewed aircraft, drones, and loitering munitions.
A-10 Thunderbolt IIClose air support attack aircraftSide: United States and Afghan government forcesBuilt: Fairchild Republic Co. / United StatesThe A-10 Thunderbolt II is a U.S. single-seat, twin-engine attack aircraft built around close air support, austere operations, survivability, and the 30 mm GAU-8/A cannon. U.S. military sources document A-10C use in Operation Inherent Resolve against ISIS and in Afghanistan during Operation Freedom's Sentinel, where its loiter time, precision weapons, and cannon gave commanders a dedicated low-altitude support platform..jpg?width=480)
F-35 Lightning IIFifth-generation stealth multirole fighterSide: U.S.-led coalition and Afghan governmentBuilt: Lockheed Martin / United StatesThe F-35 Lightning II is a single-seat, single-engine stealth fighter family built around sensor fusion, networked targeting, and multirole strike missions. U.S. and Israeli variants have documented post-2015 combat use, including Marine Corps F-35B strikes in Afghanistan, U.S. Air Force F-35A escort and air-defense suppression over Iran, and Israeli F-35I air-to-air combat against Iran.
MQ-9 ReaperMedium-altitude long-endurance unmanned combat aerial vehicleSide: U.S.-led coalition and Afghan governmentBuilt: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. / United StatesThe MQ-9 Reaper is a General Atomics medium-altitude, long-endurance remotely piloted aircraft built for persistent intelligence collection and precision strike. Larger and more powerful than the MQ-1 Predator, it combines satellite control, electro-optical and infrared sensors, laser designation, and weapons such as Hellfire missiles and guided bombs, making it a recurring U.S. and coalition platform in counterterrorism, maritime-security, and regional-strike operations.