Abolition Of A-10

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POSITION PAPER

ON

POSTPONING THE RETIREMENT OF THE A-10

1. The Fairchild-Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II is currently the only close air support (CAS) dedicated aircraft in the United States (US) inventory.1 The A-10 was the first airframe which was designed specifically for the role of CAS and is a simple aircraft to maintain.2 The US Air Force (USAF) has effectively employed the A-10 in a variety of combat applications since its first flight at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (AFB) in the fall of 1975.3 The intent of this paper is to outline why the USAF should not retire the A-10 right now. The USAF should not retire the A-10 because it is the only platform that fits a role currently irreplaceable by anything the USAF has flying. Advocates …show more content…
As an aircraft that was conceived following a need for a CAS specific airframe during Vietnam, the A-10 is getting old. The aging, 1970’s designed, airframe is competing with newer, faster, and higher performing platforms such as the new F-35, the F-15, the B-1 bomber and even unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) platforms such as the MQ-1 and MQ-9.10 According to General Mark A. Welsh III, the USAF is “using [the F-15 and F-16] both heavily. [They] are using the B-1 heavily.”11 Since the A-10 is an older aircraft, components on it are starting to age; some aircraft are reaching the end of their life cycle and in need of new parts and components. The USAF has recently had to enter into a contract with Boeing to make new wings and components of the wings to keep the aging fleet flying.12 As a 1970’s design, the A-10 is not competitive as an air superiority platform that the USAF is currently looking for in their aircraft. The aircraft has parts that are 30 or more years old; when compared to the F-35, which is still in the process of being built, that is extremely old. The F-15 and F-16 are both aircraft the USAF has a record of performance with and the MQ-1 and MQ-9 are relatively new platforms that are being used effectively and for an extremely low operational cost. The UAV’s also do not run the risk of losing a pilot. When considering the risk of a pilot being shot down, captured and tortured (assuming they survive) and potentially being lost, the cost of the A-10 is immediately higher than any

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