Posted on 04/23/2014 6:29:07 PM PDT by Yo-Yo
The Air Force made the same bonehead move with the EF-111A and the F-111F right after the Gulf War. Both platforms performed magnificently, then were retired in order to save money for the F-22.
We modernized and re-winged the A-10s to A-10C standard, and they have been invaluable in Iraq and Afghanistan. Now they want to kill them off to save money for the F-35.
See what getting rid of the Varks did for the F-22 program? SQUAT.
Can you guess what getting rid of the A-10 will do for the F-35?
Remind me again what is the definition of insanity?
Wasn’t the A-10 designed with the cold war in mind?
And now our government is desperately trying to get the cold war going again.
No!! we are broke. We gave it all to parasites. There is no more money CUT CUT CUT!!
No F-16 can loiter like an A-10 can.
Move the A-10s to the Army.
I say that as a former zoomie.
/johnny
Cutting food stamps by 5% would save how much??
Active Duty ping.
Will they warehouse them in Nevada? I imagine you could kill a lot of cattle with one of those ...
Fundamental transformation indeed.
The Army/Marines should take the A-10 until the drone version is flying. There is no bird in the inventory that can do close air support like the hog.
Do we deduct the riot damages from the savings?
Agreed.
I’ve worked F-15Es, F-16C/Ds, they’re great fighters, but cannot beat the A-10 in terms of the CAS role. Sure they can get there fast, but they can’t stay long. All of the former A-10 Crew Chiefs I’ve know have given that airframe praise for its ease of maintenance.
I used to jokingly call the A-10 a “Dyke Plane” when I was an Airman. In truth it has always been a favorite of mine.
Retiring it is a huge mistake.
I suggest that a minimum they let the Army pay to keep them in mothballs. That way we’ll have them when WE HAVE TO HAVE THEM AGAIN.
Anybody who thinks we’ve seen the last of dirty, low tech war is crazy, And ask any of the guys that have been on the ground what they most want to see in the air!
The USAF has always tried cutting the mighty A-10 for a long time. The main reason seems to be that they don’t find the A-10 “sexy” because it’s old-school technology and the USAF loves all the modern bells and whistles with newer planes. It’s a shame as the A-10 has proven itself again and again, and the pilots who fly them love them. Sad.
I believe I read a retired General/Admiral saying that you could agree with Obama’s Social Engineering in the Military or you could retire. I hope we still have a Military when Obama vacates the WH. If he ever does.
I think the Specter gun ships could probably do most of the A-10’s jobs but they sure look to me like they are just huge targets flying around in circles.
I am sure they have defenses but I wonder what they could be. I often hear them flying around at dusk or night. They have a very distinctive sound.
The F-35 is too expensive an aircraft to use for tank busting and close air support.
An F-16 also can’t get one engine and half a wing blown off and return to base.
I don’t think he will in my lifetime.
And my actuarial life expectancy at this point is probably 20 years.
The Air Force has always hated close air support, passionately. All of the guiding lights of air power have relentlessly pushed long range interdiction and strategic air but all but ignored direct support of infantry (while energetically opposing any move by the army to get their own fixed wing CAS).
The A-10 was a surprising break from this mind-set but with its elimination, the Air Force is back to where it wants to be. Poor dam army will have to beg for CAS from the navy and Marines from here on.
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