A-10 Warthog - U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Ryan Haden, 74th Fighter Squadron commander, lands an A-10C Thunderbolt II in the sand Dec. 3, 2014 US Air Force
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 ...
A-10 Warthog - U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Ryan Haden, 74th Fighter Squadron commander, lands an A-10C Thunderbolt II in the sand Dec. 3, 2014 US Air Force
“US Air Force secretary says it’s time to move on from the A-10 Warthog”
Take that, Putin!!!!
Make new and improved A-10s.
Ukraine here we come!
I was under the impression ground troops like them a lot.
AVIATION PING!...............
Transfer it to the Army.
Best friends!
Aren’t those B-52’s getting a little long in the tooth?
Do they scare China?
“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.”
And how old is the B-52?
Makes sense. Even though it is heavily armored, it’s not survivable against anybody with modern air defense.
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.
FWIW, I have noticed A-10s flying over my house every afternoon this week, as many a 6 at a time, in formation.
Never saw them do that before.
I suspect that they are being used to train Ukrainian pilots............
+1
Translation:
We want a NEW TOY.............................
Israel asked Obama to sell them A10 and he refused
So now there is an improved version and we no
longer see A10 as in our vital interest so
maybe we make our best ally a good deal and
make some money for its replacement.
Israel can use these wonderful planes against
Hamas, Plo, Hezzbollah and Iran.
We have had hostile anti Israeli presidents
like Obama and Brandon.
Yeah, they’re pretty useless. NOT! What’s general nuisance want to replace them with? Solar powered drones? Fidiots! “Hey, I know. We have something that works. Lets get rid of it!”
They LOVE them!
But it's an Air Force plane...
How many front line ground troops does the Air Force have?
Arguably modern targeting pods and smart bombs have reduced or eliminated the need for the A-10. I personally think we need more airplanes and would love to keep the A-10 but - for balance - this is not 1990. Or 2010.
That said, I doubt the current USAF Secretary could find his own butt without a map, flashlight, GPS and guide.
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