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Government
The Great American Warplane Cull
2014-03-13
Posted by:GolfBravoUSMC

#13  They'll use it to force development and procurement of another plane.
Posted by: gorb   2014-03-13 23:26  

#12  See also FREEREPUBLIC > [The Hill] OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: US ARMY CUTTING COMBAT BRIGADES.

FYI ditto wid the Brits ...

* VOICE OF RUSSIA > UK ARMY CUTS MAY LEAVE ARMY UNABLE TO HANDLE [major or any] THREATS - LAWMAKERS.

Unless something changes, post-9-11/GWOT OWG Amerika W-I-L-L, NOT M-I-G-H-T, IN FUTURE TIME HAVE TO DE FACTO RELY ON OWG CO-SUPERPOWERS RISING IRAN + RISING CHINA, ...@ETAL, FOR ITS GEOPOL + NUCLEAR SECURITY.

Again, Rising Iran + Rising China, etal. cannot be same unless the Sole Superpower USA + Other Great Powers unilaterally give up saidsame Power-n-Influence, + maybe a few or number of overseas Territories + Regions, so that Iran + China, etal. can "rise" to "parity" in OWG Globalist goodness.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2014-03-13 22:37  

#11  Believe the A-10s were all moved to the Guard and Reserve Units many years ago. They were considered career wreckers, for active duty pilots. When I was stationed in the UK, saw one auger in at an airshow. The problem with close ground support, is the ground. Sadly the pilot didn't survive.


Bye the way, that is an terrible random name assignment.
Posted by: Bugs Hitler6550   2014-03-13 19:56  

#10  Expect them to be back in play following the mid term elections.
Posted by: USN, Ret.   2014-03-13 18:48  

#9  Already gave'em to china, Thing.
Posted by: Skidmark   2014-03-13 17:24  

#8  DB, need any help with targeting assignments?
Posted by: AlanC   2014-03-13 16:27  

#7  Wish I could buy one of the surplus A-10's.
Posted by: Deacon Blues   2014-03-13 16:15  

#6  My last point, Darth, TF Smith is alive and well. The Air Force will say the Army outstretched is security capability. Not their fault....
Posted by: 49 Pan   2014-03-13 14:18  

#5  The Air Force Plays the politics well. They have career political officers in DC. They know well that the term ground support is where the dollars flow. So the F35 was a ground support aircraft marketed to congress as easily modded for both ground and air superiority. Reality is something different. The F16 was initially sold to support ground troops. Turns out not really the truth also, that is unless your idea is in 500 pound bombs and slow response with no real station time. They tried to rid themselves of the ground support mission in the late 80's and give the A10 to the Army. Transition planning was mid stride when desert storm kicked off and the A10 was a hero of the war, meaning lots of kudos for generals and money for pet programs. With the loser in chief as president, dingy and the cry baby running the houses I think they will finally, through slight of hand, rid themselves of that nasty support role to ground troops and stick to air superiority only.

And remember its only another $10 million per F35 to upgrade for ground support.... What a deal.
Posted by: 49 Pan   2014-03-13 14:16  

#4  Give 'em to Ukraine with the same payment terms Hezbollah pays for its SMERCHes with.
Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain   2014-03-13 13:45  

#3  Last time they did cuts when I was in the Army (1993) the mantra was "No more Task Force Smiths"

Well, that didn't work too well as the peace keeping forces deployed by Clinton found out later and the early days of 9/11.

I expect the same pattern to happen this time too.
Posted by: DarthVader   2014-03-13 13:12  

#2  a smaller and more capable force.”

More capable of what?

I saw this movie too, Bobby. IIRC those A-10s turned out to be needed after all.
Posted by: AlanC   2014-03-13 13:04  

#1  The five-year scheme retires all of the roughly 340 A-10 Warthog attack jets in the active Air Force, Air Force Reserve and state-controlled Air National Guard. The Warthogs account for the majority of the planned warplane cuts.

I think I've seen this movie.
Posted by: Bobby   2014-03-13 12:46  

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