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US Air Force secretary says it's time to move on from the A-10 Warthog because it 'doesn't scare China' and has only 'limited usability'
Business Insider ^ | Apr 27, 2023, 2:47 PM CDT | Jake Epstein

Posted on 04/28/2023 8:56:48 AM PDT by Red Badger

The US Air Force has been trying for years to retire its aging fleet of A-10 Warthog planes. During a Thursday hearing, the service secretary said the aircraft "doesn't scare China." "It still has some limited utility, but we have to get on with things," Frank Kendall told Congress.

The US Air Force has long butted heads with Congress over plans for the retirement of its aging A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft — flying cannons also known as Warthogs, and on Thursday, service leadership stressed to legislators that it's time to move on because the warplane is less useful than it was 40 years ago and simply "doesn't scare" China.

The Department of the Air Force Posture Statement about the 2024 fiscal year budget outlines specific divestments that the service branch wants to undertake so it can continue to modernize and adapt to relevant threats. The document requests that Congress allow for the retirement of 42 A-10 Warthogs because the aircraft "does not deter or survive against our pacing challenge, and we need to move forward."

Frank Kendall, the secretary of the Air Force, reiterated this Thursday afternoon during a House Armed Services Committee hearing on the service's budget request when ranking member Rep. Adam Smith asked Kendall if he could outline some of the programs that the Air Force plans to divest and why it is important that Congress avoids getting in the way.

"I'll start with the A-10," Kendall said in his response. "It's over 40 years old. It was, in its time, a great aircraft — it served us well. I was an advocate for that program for a long time, but it doesn't scare China."

(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government
KEYWORDS: a10; a10warthog; airforce; congress; frankkendall; kendall; usaf; warthog
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To: Red Badger

So, we are going to give them away.


21 posted on 04/28/2023 9:07:24 AM PDT by Iceclimber58
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To: Libloather

What is this clown’s experience with close air support? He is an idiot.


22 posted on 04/28/2023 9:08:51 AM PDT by Roklok
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To: glorgau

Nothing is survivable against modern air defense. It’s the tactics of how to employ and operate the system.
I’m glad, although I don’t think it should be a reason, that it doesn’t scare them (which I think is conjecture-have you ever heard that darn cannon squeeze off a few rounds?!). All the more surprising when they blow everything away in short order.


23 posted on 04/28/2023 9:08:58 AM PDT by GMThrust
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To: armydawg505
Transfer it to the Army.

The US Army isn't allowed to have fixed wing air craft.

Maybe add a propeller beanie?

24 posted on 04/28/2023 9:09:09 AM PDT by null and void (Attention! Non-compliant Resident Alert! Attention! Non-compliant Resident Alert! Attention! Non-com)
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To: MeganC
It’s time to transfer the entire ground support role to the Army and Marines since the prissy faggots running the Chair Force can’t be bothered with it.

↑↑↑this↑↑↑

25 posted on 04/28/2023 9:10:36 AM PDT by null and void (Attention! Non-compliant Resident Alert! Attention! Non-compliant Resident Alert! Attention! Non-com)
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To: MeganC

Amen. The Air Force has always hated the close support mission. Someone who fitted by her testimony every blond joke stereotype tried to tell John McCain the B-1 bomber was a close support aircraft.


26 posted on 04/28/2023 9:10:44 AM PDT by Retain Mike ( Sat Cong)
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To: Red Badger

USAF wants a new toy. They are great old school weapons that put the fear of God into the enemy. Look at the M-2 Browning .50 cal. That is some old tech, but we’ve got Ma-Duece on all sorts of vehicles and used lots of places.
Piss off AF!


27 posted on 04/28/2023 9:11:00 AM PDT by vpintheak (Live free, or die!)
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To: Red Badger

Here come the anti-A-10 idiots. We just need a new version of A-10, that’s all.


28 posted on 04/28/2023 9:11:12 AM PDT by \/\/ayne (I regret that I have but one subscription cancellation notice to give to my local newspaper)
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To: Red Badger

“We want a NEW TOY”

Saw several Navy platforms go into sunset and eventually get retired in my time with the DoD.....P-3, EA6B, S-3 and F-14.......every one of ‘em had a replacement in the wings ready to take the place of the old A/C......I saw no such plans in this article.


29 posted on 04/28/2023 9:11:54 AM PDT by V_TWIN (America...so great even the people that hate it refuse to leave!)
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To: Red Badger

solution...

give A10 to Army

replace F15 16 22 35 B1 2 21 52 with drones

everybody wins


30 posted on 04/28/2023 9:12:24 AM PDT by RockyTx
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To: Red Badger
... flying cannons also known as Warthogs, and on Thursday, service leadership stressed to legislators that it's time to move on because the warplane is less useful than it was 40 years ago and simply "doesn't scare" China.

If I were an enemy ground-pounder or armored trooper, it would scare the hell out of me!

31 posted on 04/28/2023 9:12:26 AM PDT by Rummyfan (In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized of man.)
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To: Red Badger

“I suspect that they are being used to train Ukrainian pilots”

More likely they won’t be Ukrainian pilots flying them over there.


32 posted on 04/28/2023 9:13:17 AM PDT by BobL
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To: Red Badger

This stupid asshole had never served a single day in combat. Mr. MIC should stfu.


33 posted on 04/28/2023 9:13:33 AM PDT by Levy78 (Reject modernity, embrace tradition. )
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To: Red Badger

Do blue haired trannies with pronoun troubles scare China?

Asking for a friend.


34 posted on 04/28/2023 9:15:11 AM PDT by 2banana (Common ground with islamic terrorists-they want to die for allah and we want to arrange the meeting)
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To: glorgau

“Makes sense. Even though it is heavily armored, it’s not survivable against anybody with modern air defense.”

Perhaps, just pisses me off when we have no successor and we’re heading into war with Russia and China. Perhaps waiting a year or so to bitch about the A-10s wouldn’t make us look quite as incompetent.


35 posted on 04/28/2023 9:15:14 AM PDT by BobL
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To: Red Badger

Translation: “Our MIC Masters want a new cash cow.”


36 posted on 04/28/2023 9:16:25 AM PDT by nesnah (Infringe - act so as to limit or undermine [something]; encroach on)
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To: Red Badger

Who cares about China? FJB himself said they are no big deal.


37 posted on 04/28/2023 9:16:26 AM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom (I don’t like to think before I say something...I want to be just as surprised as everyone else…)
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To: Red Badger
Translation:

We want a NEW TOY.............................

A fast, high-flying, sexy new toy.

Not anything that flies slow, low, and uggggggggly.

38 posted on 04/28/2023 9:16:28 AM PDT by null and void (Attention! Non-compliant Resident Alert! Attention! Non-compliant Resident Alert! Attention! Non-com)
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To: Red Badger
Seal Team - Close Air Support features some awesome A-10 action.
39 posted on 04/28/2023 9:16:34 AM PDT by \/\/ayne (I regret that I have but one subscription cancellation notice to give to my local newspaper)
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To: V_TWIN

Saw a P-3 flying with the A-10’s just this week.................


40 posted on 04/28/2023 9:16:56 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
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