"When A-10 save the day." Topic

"On June 9, five U.S. Special Operations Forces commandos died when a U.S. Air Force B-1 bomber mistakenly attacked their position in southern Afghanistan—presumably dropping JDAM satellite-guided bombs on the commandos from high altitude.

The accidental bombing comes as the Air Force is trying—with some success—to convince Congress to allow the flying branch to retire all 230 of its remaining A-10 Warthog attack jets, which specialize in low, slow attacks in close proximity to friendly troops.

The Air Force insists the high-flying B-1 and other warplanes can adequately replace the A-10. But the June 9 incident undermines the Air Force's case. Likewise, a similar incident seven years ago involving a B-1—"Bone" to the ground troops—and A-10s highlights the yawning differences between the two plane types and their pilots…"
Full article here
link

Amicalement
Armand

And A-10s have never hit friendly troops…

Yeah, this article has been brought up already. I can think of at least two incidents of A10s involving fratricide, which were both pretty bad.

In point of fact, while you take every step you can to avoid it, it happens. It always has and it always will. Learn from the mistake to avoid it in the future.

Yeah….

The next thing I expect from the A-10 fanboys is that it can cure cancer and the common cold…

If the target were to have cancer or a cold then yes, I suppose one could surmise that that particular malaise would be cured. Oh and you can bet your sweet ass I'm a fanboy, the A-10 sure made the job a lot easier and safer for the blue side. ;)

The A-10 does have specific capabilites not replicated anywhere else – it's always going to be a contentious decision to choose to "lose" a capability.

Platforms matter and the A-10 is still the best CAS tool we have for the job. If it was just the ordnance, and the platform capabilities didn't matter then the Air Force could save everyone a lot of money by equipping the B-52s for air superiority and cancelling the F-22.

I find it odd that having just finished two wars where more ordnance was expended for CAS than air superiority, yet we're making a conscience decision to ‘lose' that capability.

Well, same thing applied to Harriers for us, but the Tornado clique at the MOD won the argument and the rest is history.

As is the fixed wing capability of the Fleet Air Arm.

I guess the argument goes that B1/B52 + attack helicopters + drones mean that the A-10 is an expensive specialist that can be done without. That's a tough call to make.

Harrier doesn't have even half the capability (or indeed weapons load) of Tornado. It was great for hiding in the woods, flying off small carriers and wowing the crowds at airshows, but otherwise a poor tool for CAS. During ops in the former Yugoslavia, the much-vaunted Harriers had so little operational range that they actually had to land at shore-bases to refuel before continuing on inland to carry out their missions.

What if we had an advanced old timey strike fighter?

link

I roughed out some future US-balkanization scenario, where a division of Triumph Aerostructures (descendant of Vought) put updated A-7Fs into production in TN, because of difficulties with subcontracted parts availability for the F-35 line.

I'd love to see us buy six hundred to replace the A-10 and some Vipers.

House votes to save the A-10

The House on Thursday approved a proposal to scrap the Air Force's recommendation to retire the A-10 close air support planes.

Adopted 300-114, the amendment to the 2015 defense appropriations bill offered by Reps. Ron Barber (D-Ariz.) and Candice Miller (R-Mich.) would prevent any elimination of the A-10, also known as the "Warthog," fleet.

Full article here
link

Good news!.

Amicalement
Armand

Does anyone else find it completely insane that politicians get involved in what equipment the armed services get to keep or to enter service?

I hope they don't do that in medical services – "we've got to keep these ancient iron lungs in service cause of stupid notions by clueless politicians trying to get brownie points with constituents affected by the closure of a local iron lung plant. Meanwhile we will decommission all the MRIs)."

It's insane micromanagement.

The way it should work is: "USAF here's what we want you to do and here's a budget to do it. Now go and do your job."

As I've said before; thank god that British politicians didn't have a say in whether or not to keep Spitfires…

Thomas- You're making way too much sense. You know better; this is Congress we're talking about…

Wanna bet the two sponsors of that 'brilliant' bill have reserve or national guard A-10 units in their districts? Most (all) wouldn't know a A-10 from their A (well, you get the point…).

I'm still in favor of the US Army buying all the A10s off the USAF and telling the USAF to pack hot sand, the Army will be keeping these. And then re-establishing the US Army Air Corps, which would be dedicated to providing CAS for the Army.