Kalran: Tales of the four nations/Wild Weasels

While the UCA new innovation with it's levitation pads had gave them the ability to better support their ground force close to the battle it came at the cost of having many of their older aircraft model, which are too maintenance intensive that it requires a specialized airfield far from the front lines, getting mothballed. With a few exceptions. One of the few that escaped such fate was the p95 "thunderbolt" strike plane.

While other battalions had mothballed theirs, not wanting to spend their budget on maintaining such planes, Echo battalion was the exception, seeing its weaponry, speed, and armor being ample compensation for it's complexity. So the Thunderbolt have found a new use for their cannons, rockets, and bombs; the growing concept of Close Air Support.

First, the battalions spotters contact the nearest UCA air base with the coordinates of an enemy position, often an armored column, large patrol, or an array of AA defense. The coordinates are relayed to the Thunderbolt squadron, and depending on the gravity of the situation, anywhere from a single Thunderbolt to an entire squadron will close in on and bombard the enemy positions with concentrated bombs, rocket, and autocannon fire. This can either serve as the lead-up to an air assault, or the final mopping up of enemy forces.

Though tough, many UCA commanders have learned the hard way that the Thunderbolts are still vulnerable to being shot down en route to their objective, especially by heavy AA units.

Trivia

 * The Thunderbolt is a fusion of the WWII P-47 Thunderbolt fighter and the Cold War era A-1 Skyraider