[Jeff Chandler]

Watch out for these.

[Tench_Coxe]

Despite the nickname, I have always liked this aircraft.

[TigerLikesRooster]

They need to produce a drone-version of Warthog. Relying on warplanes whose production was ceased a long time ago would not be enough.

[Mad Dawgg]

Why not build new ones also and just add better tech as it comes available? The thing does a monster job but you know there are improvements that can be made.

[llevrok]

keeping the A10 is the second best news I’ve heard today.

[MasterGunner01]

The reason the USAF is going to keep the A-10 Warthogs flying is that the service does NOT have a survivable ground attack machine that can do the close air support (CAS) mission. For the price of one (1) F-35A Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), the USAF can completely upgrade its entire A-10 fleet to the A-10C, re-manufacture older birds, and run A-10 squadrons for at least three years. Besides, what USAF officer would dare to put his brand new wonder weapon anywhere near a CAS environment? The USAF doesn't know if the F-35 can even do CAS effectively, but the A-10 certainly can. The US Army isn't doing handsprings over retiring the A-10 in favor of the F-35 JSF either. The Army knows the USAF will not want to risk their hideously expensive F-35s doing the CAS role for troops on the ground.

[wastoute]

Why do they keep threatening this plane? The thing is a flying TANK tank killer. Sure, I realize that it makes life tough in the cocktail lounge when you have to explain that, while you really ARE a pilot, the thing you fly is called “Wart Hog” but Buck Up! Folks have endured worse for their country.

[Rockingham]

The A-10 also needs upgrades, and the Air Force needs to adopt close air support methods and doctrines that pair it with the F-35 so as to put their respective capabilities at the service of US ground forces. Testing and exercises have shown that they make a potent combination.

[Revolutionary]

There is a written agreement between the Army and the Air Force to have X number of dedicated Close Air Support aircraft. So even though the brass wanted to get rid of the A-10, it was straight lined far into the future (50 years in ‘96) as they were not going to invest in a new dedicated CAS aircraft.

The A-10 was impressive when it came out, but it is now even more impressive/effective since it had a major avionics upgrade. If the damn thing didn’t fly backwards in a stiff wind, it would be alright. Had to get a little friendly dig in.

[ExSES]

A very rare common-sense decision! As other posters have suggested..., they DO need to develop a drone with such capabilities!

[SkyPilot]

Today's Air Force fleet is very tired, very old, and very small.

Average Age: 56 years

______________________________________________________________________

Average Age: 57 years

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[MichaelCorleone]

Yesssssssss!

There never was an adequate substitute. Even thinking about mothballing the A10 was nonsense.

[Uncle Sam 911]

And the Army says HOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAA!

[R. Scott]

Good news.

[Arlis]

Finally - a good decision on this great war plane.

It has a place in war no other plane and no set of tactics will ever fill, and is desperately needed for ground action. Indeed - we need it forever........

And A-10 pilots love it!

[dila813]

JSF isn’t a fitting replacement

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Good news....

[GreyFriar]

At last, the USAF acknowledging that Warthogs are good for the survival of Army grunts on the battlefield.

[Jet Jaguar]

Active Duty ping.