Posted on 09/23/2014 1:00:09 PM PDT by blam
Christopher Harress, International Business Times
September 23, 2014
A-10 Warthog in Afghanistan upload.wikimedia.org
As the U.S. begins bombing ISIS targets in Syria with a campaign of airstrikes that started Monday, a venerable airplane that was almost sent to the scrapyard joins the fight. The Pentagon will send a dozen A-10 Thunderbolt aircraft and up to 300 airmen to the Middle East in early October, to help in the conflict against the Islamic State group, the Indiana National Guard said.
The deployment of the 40-year-old aircraft comes just four months after it was controversially saved from defense cuts by Congress, whose rationale for saving it was simple: Cutting it would lead to the deaths of U.S. servicemen on the ground.
Built originally by now-defunct Fairchild to destroy Soviet tanks in Europe, the A-10 survived the end of the Cold War thanks to its ability to fly low, carry lots of bombs and a large cannon, and help troops with close air support, which made it often invaluable in Afghanistan. But with defense cuts looming and the Afghan war winding down, the Thunderbolt seemed on the way out.
The aircraft, while favored by some Air Force top brass, was slated to be cut from the defense budget in early May, with potential savings of about $4 billion over a five-year period. The more than 300 A-10s in service would have been grounded.
(snip)
(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...
Awesome!
They keep saying its outdated and obsolete, yet they keep going back to it.
I was in the air force and most decisions are made by fighter pilots. Thats changing a little but if it doesn’t go fast they don’t have a lot of use for it.
Light ‘em up!
One really does not want a warthog driver mad at them.
There is pretty much nothing that’ll withstand a full on gattling gun attack.
The Story beyond the Story, A10 primary Function is... Ground Support!
Hummm
I wonder where they will be flying from? Maybe Jordan? Too bad the Warthogs were not around when ISIS was on parade.
Best time of my life, flying the Hog in the 80’s, in Europe. . .gawd. . .what a jet!
Looks like that A-10 took a round on it’s engine housing.
Scrap heap?
Heck, I want one for my birthday.
Awesome bird
As all warcraft should be...weapons systems first then propulsion and whatever accoutrements can be affixed thereafter :)
They should be building more but better :)
Love that vapor photo!!
Article says some USAF brass like the ‘Hog but I wonder if they’d be willing to stand up and really be counted. Somehow, I doubt it.
Oh those crony military industry lobbying generals get so pissed when there’s action and the warthog gets another well deserved reprieve
Well worth the effort to go and see them fly (glide) by
The Air Force once again tried to scrap one of the most useful close support aircraft they own because it isn’t a super sophisticated, quarter billion dollar, fly high, go fast zoomie.
I’ve been saying, like many of you, that if there had been a squadron of A10s left in Iraq, ISIS would never have been able to move out of Syria.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.