The A-10 warthog

[Aloha_Shooter]

Too bad the congress critters baring of retirement of the A-10 has nothing to do with protecting troops as much as it has to do with keeping money flowing in home districts.

Mmmm ... where are you getting this from? It's not like the A-10 is being produced anymore.

[Gman]

The A-10 is better suited to CAS to protect our guys on the ground. The F-35 on the other hand has been a tremendous waste of money.

[speedysst]

Maybe we could just buy the Chinese copy of the F-35. I mean, they stole the plans and we know it flies since they did a demonstration when Obama was there.

[clublights]

Mmmm ... where are you getting this from? It's not like the A-10 is being produced anymore.

A-10 bases are not F-35 bases .... so if the airmen move to F-35 bases for training there will not be personnel and the money they spend at the former A-10 bases .

[Aloha_Shooter]

A-10 bases are not F-35 bases .... so if the airmen move to F-35 bases for training there will not be personnel and the money they spend at the former A-10 bases .

That's so thin I could use it for a window. When we roll out new aircraft to replace existing aircraft with the same mission, the new aircraft go to existing units while the personnel are upgraded to the new platforms.

I understand the desire to be skeptical of Congress but sometimes they really are interested in things like preserving capabilities that work.

[clublights]

That's so thin I could use it for a window. When we roll out new aircraft to replace existing aircraft with the same mission, the new aircraft go to existing units while the personnel are upgraded to the new platforms.

I understand the desire to be skeptical of Congress but sometimes they really are interested in things like preserving capabilities that work.

Except it is not thin in the slightest ..


Current A-10 Bases:
Davis Monthan
Moody
splattering of ANG's

First 3 F-35 bases :

Hill
Eglin
Burlington .
Davis Monthan


If you don't think politics plays into that you don't remember the BRAC of the 90's that had nothing to do with saving the pentagon money and everything to do with keeping bases open in home districts.

[blackford76]

so...decide it by a head to head competition, 2 A-10s vs 3 F-35s, UNDER 1500 feet. Then the A-10 can be put back into production because there will never be an equal to the Hog in CAS.

[flogger]

I read they are going to try an A-10 for weather/storm chasing. Probably a good platform and ready to take a beating..

[RMAC757]

so...decide it by a head to head competition, 2 A-10s vs 3 F-35s, UNDER 1500 feet. Then the A-10 can be put back into production because there will never be an equal to the Hog in CAS.

The A-10 would smash everything in sight, the F-35 would turn the lights out and shut down enemy defenses. I can say this, there is no way they will reopen the A-10 line. Most of the airframe tooling probably doesn't exsist anymore. The airplane will unfortunately be retired eventually. The airplane is extremely effective against a third world nation but wouldn't last long against someone with modern air defenses. The Sniper and LITENING pod brought it about as far as it can go. The AF wants to move in the direction of Cyber fighting with up linked data. The A-10 doesn't fit that role. Sad, but it's been a tried and true warrior.

[jerrymrc]

The A-10 would smash everything in sight, the F-35 would turn the lights out and shut down enemy defenses. I can say this, there is no way they will reopen the A-10 line. Most of the airframe tooling probably doesn't exsist anymore. The airplane will unfortunately be retired eventually. The airplane is extremely effective against a third world nation but wouldn't last long against someone with modern air defenses. The Sniper and LITENING pod brought it about as far as it can go. The AF wants to move in the direction of Cyber fighting with up linked data. The A-10 doesn't fit that role. Sad, but it's been a tried and true warrior.

And as sad to say I agree. The biggest thing in my mind is that nothing strikes fear into the enemy and nothing other than the A-10 boosts morale to the troops on the ground. I see us fighting the third world threat for a long time.

Just the sound of one brings big smiles to troops on the ground. It is just one of those intangibles that is understood by many but they do not make the case. The biggest point that a few had the balls to say it was when the Army said "if you don't want it we will take it" years ago. Some forget that it used to be the "Army air corps"

Just thought from an old guy that loves the A-10.