U.S. Air Force still wants to retire A-10s "Warthog" fleet

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World Aviation Defense and Security News - United States
 
 
U.S. Air Force still wants to retire A-10 "Warthogs" fleet
 
According to The Wall Street Journal, the U.S. Air Force plans to revive its controversial push to retire the A-10 jet in the face of fierce opposition from lawmakers. Congress is set to reject the existing Air Force plan to save $3.5 billion by retiring the fleet of A-10 "Warthogs," which were used extensively to provide air support to ground troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
     
According to The Wall Street Journal, the U.S. Air Force plans to revive its controversial push to retire the A-10 jet in the face of fierce opposition from lawmakers. Congress is set to reject the existing Air Force plan to save $3.5 billion by retiring the fleet of A-10 "Warthogs," which were used extensively to provide air support to ground troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Arkansas Air National Guard's A-10s thunderbolt "Warthogs"
     

The new push outlined by the top Air Force general on the weekend comes as military leaders and defense contractors are preparing for the return of another round of automatic sequestration budget cuts.

"It's still the right answer," said Gen. Mark Welsh, the Air Force chief of staff, when asked at a military conference whether it still wants to retire the A-10 to preserve other capabilities and fund priorities such as the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, a new aerial-refueling tanker and a proposed long-range bomber.