Posted on 01/21/2015 12:39:22 PM PST by McGruff
With a roaring engine, 30-mm. cannon and nose painted like a toothsome, snarling beast, the A-10 Thunderbolt sends ISIS fighters scattering like cockroaches on the Iraqi desert plains, but the legendary fighter plane pilots call the "Warthog" may be fighting for its own life.
The venerable plane, first built for destroying Soviet tanks, has been on the chopping block since the sequester of 2011 mandated steep cuts in the Pentagon budget. Although the planes haven't been built in more than 30 years, the Defense Department believes it can save maintenance costs by phasing them out. Air Force brass believes newer, faster aircraft like the F-16, F-15E, and, eventually, Lockheed Martin’s F-35 fighter can do a better job of the Warthog’s mission of providing close air support to soldiers on the ground. But supporters say Islamic State fighters are finding out the hard way what they have said all along.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
That aircraft is one big piece of whoop-ass! I’ve seen it in action in Iraq and was glad it was on our side!
Give me a A-10 any day over a F-22...then again...I’m a ground troop MP...22’s don’t do anything for me...
Always loved,”The Hog”.
Glory boys with angle wings get a lot of press but these guys are a whole different breed!!
Respectfully, you are mistaken.
See my post #20.
Given the massive budget "bill" the Air Force and the rest of the DoD is forced to "pay" so we can keep the ObamaCare subsidies, EBT cards, and Social Security Disability dollars flowing, the only way to save Billions is by cutting entire line fleets. Thus, the A-10 and KC-10 are targeted for termination.
The amount is paltry compared to the actual size of the budget.
Uh ...No. Perhaps kryptonite missiles might work if the pilot were a chap named "Clark Kent?"
A phased plasma cannon in the mega-watt range.
Did anyone tell the Caribou?
The A-10. A beautiful cannon with a jet built around it. It is an awesome tool for the job needed. it would be a crying shame to retire this aircraft.
Barry is more apt to fire some more upper staff than allow anything that might help our military.
God help us is right.
Which law is that?
If you're talking about the Key West Agreement, that's not law.
Moreover, the Air force in its entirety is not authorized by the Constitution.
cheap, replica-/prop-samurai sword to cut wood.
FTFY.
Getting rid of the A-10 is like getting rid of a wrench because the design is outdated.
The Air Force indeed hates it. What they love is electronics, stealth, and above all -procurement-. They have a very poor record for providing quality ground support and have become big believers that they ARE the main effort. Supporting the Army is a distraction from what they believe war is.
There is simply no viable replacement for the function the A-10 performs so well. It is a version of cavalry that happens to fly, rather like a flying tank, throwing out huge amounts of projectiles at very high muzzle velocity, and capable of disabling or even destroying a terrestrial armored vehicle. To say nothing about what would happen to a column of supply or personnel carrier vehicles.
Add to that the high degree of mobility, and you have a devastating war machine.
Crank up the production lines and start getting them out there on the front. Shock and Awe still are major psychological and tactical strategies.
Better than that, give them to the Army and Marines, and start building new ones. Same proven ideas, plus some upgrades. Nothing else can really replace it.
Who ever thought Richard Gatling’s contraption would be so effective when hooked to an electric motor!
If you were correct, the AF wouldn’t be pushing that dog the F-35, that is less capable than a 16 or 15. The 15SE makes it a total embarrassment.
You cant scream tight budgets as a justification to drop the most effective machine we have while pursuing the “F-35 replaces everything” idea.
Cut the number of F-35 by the number of A-100s we have and pocket the money.
Of course, contractors and congressfools really hate that.
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