Posted on 12/01/2014 9:17:03 AM PST by george76
A large association of battlefield target spotters has written to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to oppose the planned retirement of A-10 Warthog strike jets — a debate that now encompasses the “friendly fire” deaths of five American soldiers in Afghanistan.
The A-10 endorsement from the Tactical Air Control Party Association is significant because, outside of the Warthog’s pilots themselves, perhaps no other warriors know its ability to protect ground troops under fire better than the ground controllers who guide it to enemy targets.
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The five fatalities occurred on June 9, when a B-1B strategic bomber — a planned replacement for the A-10 — dropped a 500-pound bomb squarely onto U.S. soldiers protecting a helicopter landing zone.
An investigation showed the flight crew lacked basic knowledge about the bomber’s sensors, which did not have the capability to detect friendly infrared strobes worn by soldiers that night. Not knowing the sensors’ limitations and not seeing any strobes, the crew unleashed the deadly bomb.
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The Air Force is sticking by its guns, portraying the Warthog as a limited aircraft ... The Air Force retired 61 A-10s in 2013 and now operates 283.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
“The Air Force is sticking by its guns, portraying the Warthog as a limited aircraft ...’
The jet jockeys hate to fly “low and slow” even if it provides the best support. If they don’t want to fly them then they should bring back the Army and Marine pilots to fly them.
The Air Force only wants the latest gee-whiz stealth zoomie that costs $300 million each. Transfer all the A-10 squadrons and budgets to the Army and tell the AF generals to pound sand.
I have a 30 minute tape of two A-10s maneuvering near Eglin AFB. This was with an old VHS-c compact video camera.
They were fascinating to watch. The closest thing to compare to them is a WACO stunt plane or maybe a crop duster.
I know they have a lot of armor protecting the pilot and engines etc. but they also look like they would be really vulnerable to hand held antiaircraft missiles.
If you’re dropping bombs, a Predator drone will do the job too. And you can have the Forward Air Controller on the ground helping guide it.
There is no replacement for the Warthog. Period.
We still need them.
How anyone could think a B1 could replace it is beyond me.
Or fold the Air Force back into the Army. At least have Army generals doing official evaluations of Air Force officers, based on how well they handle ground support.
“...a B-1B strategic bomber — a planned replacement for the A-10...”
Huh? I have no military background, but that doesn’t make any sense to me.
'Loose lips sink ships'
Close air support from a B-1B ???????????
Like a 12 ga. versus a fly on the wall from about 30 feet.
I have no formal military background, but study military history and equipment. I have numerous friends with deep military backgrounds.
We all agree: replacing A-10s CAS planes with B-1B SBs is just plain nonsensical — or rather just plain stupid AND crazy.
So, sending a B1 bomber from England or Missouri is a replacement for a close air support and anti tank plane?
In what universe is that a reality. Did they install Ford Eco-boost engines in the B1? Or are they being housed in Afghanistan now?
Good grief!! Let's see who can stay on a target longer and deliver the goods accurately
It seems to me that the B-1 has to maintain a tremendous speed just to stay airborne. This is not true of the A-10. The A-10 is far more flexible, especially in a near vertical dive to target scenarios.
Heh; I had to re-look them both up on Wiki just to make sure I wasn’t watching the wrong videos on Military Channel for years. Losing the A-10 is a huge mistake.
“but it’s OLD!”
stupid bastids...
“The jet jockeys hate to fly “low and slow” even if it provides the best support.”
It doesn’t provide the best support now. I’ve worked target pods, and I flew back when going low was the only option. The modern targeting pods and PGMs make it possible to be more accurate from higher altitudes.
This was a case of the B-1 and JTAC not doing their jobs.
“In the June 9 tragedy on a ridge line in Afghanistan, the Air Force JTAC provided the wrong coordinates to the B-1, in part based on the bomber crew’s detection of no infrared strobe signals at that location.”
BTW - I also spent 2 years as an ALO.
And how much runway does a B-1 need versus an A-10? I’ll bet the B-1 needs AT LEAST twice the runway length to take-off or land.
“B-1B strategic bomber — a planned replacement for the A-10”
I’m pretty sure that was one of Sen. Carl Levin’s (D-MI) ideas.
Back in GW ONE, the F-111 destroyed more tanks than the A-10 did...
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