The Air Force has dismantled four A-10 squadrons from the 2012 to today, while those still in service have switched from 24 to 18 aircraft. This is the current operational situation of the beloved A-10 Warthog built in 715 specimens. The Air Force deploys nine squadrons throughout the world in four operational theaters: South Korea, Iraq and Syria, Eastern Europe and the Philippines.
Built at the end of the 70 years, they have been redesigned to fly up to the 2028. This data should not make the scandal shout: just think that the B-52 fleet will fly up to 2040. The Pentagon has recently invested a billion dollars in equipping the A-10 with a new cockpit, fire control system and a helmet-mounted HMD implemented on the helmet.
The controversies on the A-10 arise from the need to free up funds to be allocated to the F-35 which, in theory, was also presented as an aircraft in the CAS role. We know it's not like that. The universal hunting project, both in terms of the components in common for the three variants and the multi-role role, has long failed officially. The Navy is developing its own specific fighter, while the Air Force presses to reopen the line Raptor.
The sacrifice of the A-10 was deemed necessary to ensure the economic flow for the F-35. Unfortunately, as we have repeated several times, the F-35 tactical fighter will never play the missions of the Warthog and to equalize its historically underestimated close support capabilities. Finally, there is the atavistic diatribe between Air Force and the troops on the ground. After the initial phase (lasting years) for the all-inclusive JSF, the Pentagon also admitted the facts, authorizing the AX program (natural substitute for A-10).
Immediate, however, what will become of the A-10? Meanwhile, in recent weeks there has been perhaps the most "brilliant" political move to defend the A-10. In the House bill for the next budget instrument, the retirement plans for the A-10 will be reviewed "only after comparative tests with the F-35". If the F-35 were to perform the A-10 CAS missions with the same efficiency, the end of Warthog it would be certain. Otherwise it will remain in service until the decision of the AX program that as we know provides three options: build a new one Warthog, use current assets to meet CAS missions or extend the life of the A-10 to the 2040 / 45.
Despite budgetary pressures and the need to free up resources to be allocated to the F-35 program, the Air Force in its latest budget request sets out the definitive retirement plans for the 2022 (with 49 disused aircraft within 2018). They do not think so from Congress that they said they were ready to freeze all types of A-10 retirement until the capabilities of the platform that replaced it will be proven.
Il fly-off is an integral part in the development of the F-35 before starting mass production. The tests will reveal the capabilities of the F-35 in the CAS missions. It should be noted that these comparisons had already been foreseen, as happened in the past, for example, with the F-22. There timeline development of the F-35 provides comparative tests with all aircraft that will replace. The A-10 will be the first aircraft, then it will be the turn of the F / A-18 and so on. If the tests reveal faults in the F-35, the Air Force will use all available resources to improve the JSF.
It would be unfair to predetermine the results of the fly-off, but lethality, survival and unique ability to provide continuous A-10 air support are unmatched. The A-10 can fly over the battlefield for 90 minutes, while the F-35A can only remain for 20 / 30 minutes. The A-10 can shoot more than 1.170 shots, while the F-35A only has 180 bullets. The A-10 can remain in flight even after losing part of its primary systems, the F-35A can not survive a direct hit.
What can I tell you? - the Deputy Chief of the Air Force General Staff, General David Goldfein, told reporters last March - that the F-35 is the ideal replacement for the A-10? I can not.
(photo: Lockheed Martin)
