Posted on 06/18/2019 6:42:08 PM PDT by Rebelbase
The A-10 will continue to fly in support of America’s ground forces, thanks to the quick passing of the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act.
The aircraft, which has not been manufactured since the early 1980s, is useful to the U.S. but is showing its age.
Just two years ago, nearly half of the A-10 fleet was grounded.
The spending plan will include money for new wings, as well as other upgrades.
“The A-10 Warthog has immeasurable value to our U.S. troops on the ground and plays a critical role in our military strategy in the Middle East and around the world,” AZ Rep. Ruben Gallego said. “I’m glad that we were able to keep this fleet fully operational, and I will continue to fight to preserve this aircraft to ensure that the warfighter on the ground gets their air support.”
Since the late 1980s, the USAF has pushed to retire the A-10. The plane has avoided permanent grounding because of its combat performance, desirability by friendly ground forces, and legendary track record.
(Excerpt) Read more at warisboring.com ...
GREAT NEWS!
Have them fly border patrol.
We’ll need them for the cartel war.
They are pretty vulnerable in a modern integrated air defense environment. However, we’ve tended to fight wars where such doesn’t exist, or doesn’t exist for long. And fundamentally, the Air Force has to be drug kicking and screaming to provide true close air support, which is an aspect of this vote. It’s part of why the Marines have never given up their air component.
There is nothing to replace the A-10 design. We have to keep it flying.
GOOD.
Now, re-tool and build brand new ones.
I’ve said this at least 20 times, so here I go again: the air force has never liked the A-10. The ground attack role isn’t “sexy” enough for the wing wipers. Give them to marine aviation.
CC
Not necessary. We have plenty of them at AMARC that can be rebuilt.
Every time they showed a 500 lb bomb be used in the mid east to take out a pickup truck or some other type of ground vehicle I kept wondering where are the A10s that could do that job at probably 1/10th the cost.
Glad to see we're keeping it.
The A-10 provides close combat support now.
Eventually the F-35 will provide oit by controlling drones.
In desert storm ... I’ll say no more but the a 10 is mythical. In my view.
Invaluable besides
Build more new ones anyway.
THREE CHEERS for the WARTHOG & for the (mostly) AIR NATIONAL GUARD pilots that fly them so bravely.
In my day (when dinosaurs roamed the Earth!) as a MIKE PAPA, when things got “sporty”, we looked forward to the ROAR of the A10 “down in the weeds” & firing CSA fires, sometimes within 10M of our fragile bodies.
(When Combat Support MPs talk about CLOSE AIR SUPPORT, that’s what we mean.= REALLY CLOSE.)
Yours, TMN78247
If an airplane needed saving just because of looks, the A10 is it.
I know. That’s not a reasonable reason.
But God how I love their mean, butt ugly look.
You’ve just put your finger on one of the problems. The A-10 has legendary loiter capabilities, but it isn’t what they would call a “fast mover”.
I recall a girlfriend seeing one at a Ft Lauderdale air show and telling me about the goosebumps she got seeing and hearing an A10 flying overhead.
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