A-10 ground support plane (Tiberian Dawn)

Summary
The A-10 Thunderbolt II, also known as the Warthog, was used by GDI commanders during the First Tiberium War, as a method of delivering damage to their enemies. The A-10 is built for high-survivability, featuring titanium construction and multiply-redundant systems, which allowed it to get into even heavily defended enemy centers, although SAMs would take a toll.

Usage and Strengths
The A-10s used during the First Tiberium War were armed with a number of Napalm bombs, which created a small cloud of flame upon the target. This meant that it was murderously effective against infantry and highly damaging against structures. Considering that Nod concentrated on lightly armored vehicles, it was also effective against most Nod vehicles, including, ironically, Flame Tanks. When an airstrike was ready, commanders selected a particular point on the battlefield. Nod infantry and armor concentrations as well as Nod bases in general were primary targets. The A-10s then began a bombing run against the target, generally dropping bombs in a circular pattern. Depending on the mission priority, up to 4 A-10s could be assigned. Together, 4 of them could lay waste to enemy structures, and remove infantry from an area.

A-10s were to expensive to upkeep to be readily available to most commanders thus most GDI commanders had to request individual air strikes from special air bases.

Owing to the fact that they could be brought down by enough SAMs (See below), GDI air bases generally would only dispatch A-10s after all SAM sites in the area had been destroyed.

Weaknesses
Despite their solid construction, A-10s could still be brought down by SAMs, especially multiple SAMs. Depending on how this occurred, the A-10s might or might not have an opportunity to drop bombs. Owing to their much smaller range and less anti-aircraft power, missiles fired by stealth tanks and rocket infantry were generally ineffective.