is the a10 dead??

[Michaelc136]

Is the a10 dead?? (decommissioned)

[mvsgas]

No

[Cali]

and won't be for a while...Look at the B-52, its as old as dirt and it's still flying and will be around for a loooooong time.

[G-Lock91]

I believe it is scheduled to stay in service until 2028...

[cichlidfan]

Is the a10 dead?? (decommissioned)

 

Where exactly did you see/read anything to make you think that?

[EtherealN]

It's dead enough that the USANG recently commisioned Eagle Dynamics to produce a DTS towards conversion training of pilots from A-10A to A-10C. ;)

 

(That is where the information used towards DCS A-10C comes from. ;) )

[cichlidfan]

Photo taken this past Tuesday.

 

7/24/2012 - JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii - A-10 Thunderbolt IIs from the 47th Fighter Squadron, Barksdale Air Force Base, La., are readied for a mission as part of the Rim of the Pacific military exercise July 17, 2012, at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. Twenty-two nations, more than 40 ships and submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 29 to Aug. 3, in and around the Hawaiian Islands. The world's largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain the cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. RIMPAC 2012 is the 23rd exercise in the series that began in 1971. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Ted Daigle)

[Cali]

Barksdale is suppose to be losing their A-10's later this year. They are going to other units, not getting decommissioned. The AF just sent a lot of money on getting all the remaining A-10's upgraded to the "C" version.

[cichlidfan]

and won't be for a while...Look at the B-52, its as old as dirt and it's still flying and will be around for a loooooong time.

 

Yep, I am sure the B-52Z is in the pipeline somewhere. ;)

[GripenNG]

How about the A version? Is it still flying operational? Or have the airforce finished all the uppgrading to C standard?

[Jona33]

How about the A version? Is it still flying operational? Or have the airforce finished all the uppgrading to C standard?

 

Finished, there's still the A's at the boneyard that in theory could be brought back to life (I think) but that would never happen.

[Cali]

Yep, I am sure the B-52Z is in the pipeline somewhere. ;)

 

Maybe if they did that it wouldn't be such a pita to work on, but then again it would. The designers/AF would screw us again and do something stupid. Did I ever mention that I hate working this thing, take me back to my little F-16's!

[mikoyan]

Maybe if they did that it wouldn't be such a pita to work on, but then again it would. The designers/AF would screw us again and do something stupid. Did I ever mention that I hate working this thing, take me back to my little F-16's!

 

What is wrong with it?

[WarthogSmurf]

The airforce is even investing in a helmet mounted HUD

 

let me steal a link from my boss =)

 

http://www.307bw.afrc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123311538

 

So i would say nope not dead just getting better and better by the seconds . It will take a long time until tje F-35 replaces it (if it even get replaced by it anymore)

[Fjordmonkey]

What is wrong with it?

 

It's 50 years old :P

 

There's been a lot of developement on how to make an aircraft easier to service over the last 50 years or so (hell, look at the JAS39 Gripen), and after thousands of flight-hours aircraft tend to develop kinks, quirks and individual personalities. One of the CrewChiefs I worked with on the RNoAF F16's once said that old aircraft are like old women: Stubborn, set in their ways and needs a lot of tender love & care to keep in good condition :P

[Cali]

What is wrong with it?

 

Where do I start.....:D a lot of the systems are just old. They might of been ok back in the 50's and 60's. They could use a lot of upgrades to get rid of things that aren't even used anymore. We can barely get some parts for it.

[Snoopy]

Barksdale is suppose to be losing their A-10's later this year. They are going to other units, not getting decommissioned. The AF just sent a lot of money on getting all the remaining A-10's upgraded to the "C" version.

 

The DOD wanted to retire 102 A-10C, leaving 246 in the inventory aircraft but the latest I've heard is that plan is on hold and that funding is planned for all airframes so hopefully no cuts this year. Here is what the DOD wanted to retire:

 

Active Duty

Spangdahlem AB, Germany (17 ACFT)

 

Air National Guard

Ft Smith (20 ACFT)

Ft Wayne (20 ACFT)

Selfridge (21 ACFT)

 

USAF Reserves

Barksdale (24 ACFT)

 

I believe it is scheduled to stay in service until 2028...

 

There is a study going on currently to extend the life well into 2040

 

http://defensetech.org/2011/07/22/a-10-warthogs-could-serve-until-2040/#ixzz1xVsRabU9

 

So it might be 2040 before the Air Force’s fleet of A-10 Warthog attack jets is replaced by the F-35 and whatever drones emerge in the coming years.

 

Check out this solicitation for tooling necessary to keep the jets flying until 2040.

 

Here are the basics:

The Government is contemplating to contract for engineering services on behalf of the A-10 Systems Program Officer (SPO). The services contemplated include the following:

1 — Develop plan to identify available A-10 Tooling that will be needed to support and sustain the A-10 Aircraft until 2040.

2 — Prioritize tooling based on need and critical nature of tool.

3 — Develop Teamcenter product structure and workflows to properly link and manage the engineering data, scanned data and physical tools with the Air Force Global Logistics Support Center and A-10 production facilities.

4 — Digitally scan the tools according to the priority list and validate prior to linking to engineering data in the A-10 Teamcenter Database.

5 — Develop CAD/CAM interface data by reverse engineering (scanned data) where needed.

This would put the invaluable Hog up there with workhorse jets like the B-52 Stratofortress and KC-135 Stratotanker as planes that will serve until 2040.

 

This may be due to the fact that the A-10 is such a unique and cost effective weapon. It’s a relatively simple plane that’s tough as nails and can do everything from kill tanks to loiter low and slow over a battlefield dispatching enemy insurgents.

 

While it’s pretty easy to see the F-35 performing the ground attack and fighter missions of jets like the fast-moving F-16s, it’s harder to see the JSF rolling in slow and unleashing a torrent cannon fire on a beehive of enemies. Do you really want to risk getting a stealth jet all shot up on CAS runs?

Furthermore, could this be a sign that the service is considering slowing of reducing its F-35 buy in favor of keeping more Hogs in service and while focusing on using the JSF to replace F-15s and F-16s, (at least initially)?

 

This last one may be a stretch, but who knows?

Edited July 30, 2012 by Snoopy

[Cali]

I heard the A-10's from Barksdale where going to other units.

[ФрогФут]

There is a study going on currently to extend the life well into 2040

A-10E.:)

[Snoopy]

I heard the A-10's from Barksdale where going to other units.

 

There is a lot in flux right now, last I read (a week ago) was Barksdale wouldn't lose it's A-10s for at least a year and when they did they would go to the boneyard. I think it's stupid, a lot of the A-10s they plan to retire are low hour airframes....

 

A-10E.:)

 

LOL...

[Cali]

They just spent how much money on the upgrade.....they do like wasting money. We'll see what happens in the next year or so.

[Snoopy]

They just spent how much money on the upgrade.....they do like wasting money. We'll see what happens in the next year or so.

 

I agree completely, stupid to retire any A-10s right now. The cost to operate vs even other airframes currently in service is much lower, at least it was the last figures I saw about a year ago.

[Michaelc136]

Thanks guys I was just confused from the lack of updated photos on google and other forums

[VAOZoky]

The airforce is even investing in a helmet mounted HUD

 

let me steal a link from my boss =)

 

http://www.307bw.afrc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123311538

 

So i would say nope not dead just getting better and better by the seconds . It will take a long time until tje F-35 replaces it (if it even get replaced by it anymore)

 

How can F35 replace A10?

[Snoopy]

Thanks guys I was just confused from the lack of updated photos on google and other forums

 

http://warthognews.blogspot.com/

 

How can F35 replace A10?

 

The F-35, on paper anyways, will replace the F-16 and A-10 in the USAF inventory. I don't honestly see how a single engine airframe can replace a two engine one but that's just me and knowing how many F-16s we lost at Moody back in the 90s because of one bird going down the intake.

Edited July 30, 2012 by Snoopy