Recent Article on Capabilities and Status of the A-10

[pdmarsh]

Air & Space Smithsonian, January 2017

 

Call in the A-10

Why a Ground-Attack classic has so far survived Air Force efforts to kill it.

 

http://www.airspacemag.com/military-aviation/why-the-a-10-survives-180960962/

 

Sidebar in above article:

 

The Warthog’s Final Test

Colonel/Congresswoman Martha McSally wants proof before she sends the Warthog to the boneyard.

 

http://www.airspacemag.com/military-aviation/old-not-obsolete-180961108/

 

The following is from the sidebar noted above. While the Air Force has not yet been able to kill off the A-10 wholesale, they are getting what they want through piecemeal efforts (bold highlight mine).

 

"In fiscal year 2017 legislation, McSally demanded a fly-off between the F-35 and the A-10 to validate the former’s credentials as a replacement before any more A-10s are mothballed. (Four A-10 squadrons have been decommissioned so far, and of the nine remaining, only four are on active duty.)"

[Enduro14]

Tough subject, but will say it the A10 has been a valuable air frame for us on the ground and continues to be. F35 can go fly a kite, when we need support its the down and dirty type.