Exactly how "dead" IS the A-10?

2015-10-23T13:36:09-04:00

From "Janes IHS-360"

http://www.janes.com/article/55459/usaf-deploys-a-10s-to-incirlik-for-syria-strikes?utm_campaign=[PMP]_PC5308_J360%2023.10.15%20_KV_Deployment&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua

USAF deploys A-10s to Incirlik for Syria strikes

The United States has deployed 12 Fairchild-Republic A-10C Thunderbolt II ground attack aircraft to Incirlik Air Base in Turkey to support its strikes in Syria and Iraq.

The US Air Force (USAF) revealed the deployment on 22 October, although the aircraft arrived at Incirlik on 15 October.

The A-10s, from Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, are reportedly replacing the six Lockheed Martin F-16Cs that the USAF deployed to Incerlik from Italy in August. The A-10s have already flown combat missions over Syria and are supported by 300 ground personnel.

EDITORIAL COMMENT:- Do you find it as surprising as I do that the USAF has to keep on bringing this beast out of pre-retirement when accurate and timely ground support has to be provided? If the F-35 is REALLY the replacement for the A-10, why isn't the USAF sending F-35s - after all it has more than twelve of them?

USAF deploys A-10s to Incirlik for Syria strikes - IHS Jane's 360

The United States has deployed 12 Fairchild-Republic A-10C Thunderbolt II ground attack aircraft to Incerlik Air Base in Turkey to support its strikes in Syria and Iraq. The US Air Force (USAF) revealed the deployment on 22 October, although the aircraft arrived at Incerlik on 15 October. The

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2015 2:59 PM

2015-10-23T14:59:32-04:00

Well ... they just want something ... newer ... not about how good they will do the job. But when job needed to be done ... they still use the one that finish the job.

plus if F-35 get into even an accident at this point... do you think it will be good for the argument to replace A-10 at all?

Response by Col Joseph Lenertz made Oct 23 at 2015 3:06 PM

2015-10-23T15:06:56-04:00

COL Ted Mc, your title made me imagine the Monty Python "Bring Out Your Dead" episode, with the A-10 protesting from the death cart, "but I'm not dead yet!" It's not dead yet.

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made Oct 23 at 2015 5:31 PM

2015-10-23T17:31:24-04:00

When the Air Force is "done" with their A-10 fleet, I hope they hand them over the Marine Corps. Shore up the gear struts and put a tailhook on these beasts. This platform continues to prove its worth in the CAS role. Just wished they could be carrier-based.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Oct 25 at 2015 6:30 PM

2015-10-25T18:30:39-04:00

Great question. For an aircraft 'no longer of use in the inventory' they sure keep letting loose those freedom farts on the enemy. When does the F-35 come riding in out from the sun in the last minutes to save the day?

Response by COL Ted Mc made Oct 26 at 2015 2:44 AM

2015-10-26T02:44:47-04:00

From "War is Boring"

The U.S. Air Force Knows the A-10 Will Beat the F-35

http://warisboring.com/articles/in-a-contest-the-u-s-air-force-knows-the-f-35-will-lose-to-the-a-10/

Several weeks ago, the Project on Government Oversight announced its cautious optimism upon learning the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation planned to conduct a close air support fly-off between the proven A-10 and the yet-to-be proved F-35.

The cautious aspect of that optimism has been proven to be warranted. Under questioning by Rep. Martha McSally, an Arizona Republican and former A-10 pilot, F-35 program executive officer Lt. Gen. Christopher Bogdan dismissed the idea of a comparative test as irrelevant. The exchange occurred during a House Armed Services subcommittee hearing on updates to the Joint Strike Fighter program.

Bogdan’s remarks echo earlier comments by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh, who described the proposed test as a “silly exercise.”

Michael Gilmore, Director of Operational Test and Evaluation, said in late August, “The comparison tests on the close-air support mission will reveal how well the F-35 performs and whether there are gaps, or improvements in capability, compared to the A-10.”

EDITORIAL COMMENT:- It seems that the tactical decisions on how war is to be fought are now going to be made by the Air Force AND those decisions are going to be the ones which involve the lowest level of risk to AIR FORCE personnel - regardless of what those decisions do to the casualty rate for any other service. The simple solution would be to give CAS to the Army and Marines and let the Air Force retrench around the espresso machines in the break rooms of their air conditioned combat zones between shifts of flying drones.

The U.S. Air Force Knows the A-10 Will Beat the F-35

Several weeks ago, the Project on Government Oversight announced its cautious optimism upon learning the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation planned to conduct a close air support fly-off between the proven A-10 and the yet-to-be proved F-35. The cautious aspect of that optimism has been proven to be warranted....

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 26 at 2015 6:01 PM

2015-10-26T18:01:48-04:00

This beautiful girl certainly didn't look dead by any means when I saw her flying over me downrange in 2014. She always made her presence felt.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 27 at 2015 8:43 AM

2015-10-27T08:43:43-04:00

It will be sad day when she is mothballed...hopefully it will be for an airframe that is "better". And I don't think we are there yet...

Response by SrA Art Siatkowsky made Nov 19 at 2015 11:51 PM

2015-11-19T23:51:30-05:00

what is going to takes its place?

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Nov 20 at 2015 1:26 AM

2015-11-20T01:26:23-05:00

"The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated." - Mark Twain

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 20 at 2015 9:30 AM

2015-11-20T09:30:00-05:00

The Air Force(populace) loves the A-10. The officers and civilians who are getting kick backs for promoting the F-35 are the ones trying to kill it.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 20 at 2015 2:03 PM

2015-11-20T14:03:51-05:00

The A-10 wont die anytime soon, it is starting to get old and the structure is starting to show that. The frame of the jet is starting to crack and stretch but with this the repairs are starting to get more extensive and adding a lot of weight. So this is starting to become and issue for flight speed, flight surfaces, and engines to name a few. When you add to much to the jet things start to break this jet is fly by wire and wasn't designed to run with the extra weight. plus when the gun fires the frame take all of the pressures and causes major fatigue issues after so long. The F-35 cant do any of the things the A-10 can I am talking about lofting time in area and ground support. Probably going to make a few people mad with this but a drone with a big gun and has lofting time would probably take the place for ease of maintenance and range. Its also possible for remote control for ground forces to accurately use it to direct it exactly where they need it. I would like to see a new A-10 same design with updates but that's a tall hope.