Our Tax Dollars at Work
Sep 27, 2013 22:10:37 #
Entire A-10 Fleet on the Chopping Block
The USAF has put Americas cheapest, most reliable, mission survivable attack jets on the chopping block. The A-10 Thunderbolt, most known for its 30 mm GAU-8/A Avenger Gatling cannon, has been in service for over 30 years and is on the brink of retirement, thanks to budget cuts. It was a key player in the Gulf War taking out 900+ Iraqi tanks, 2,000 military vehicles, and 1,200 artillery fixtures. The A-10, which costs approximately $13 million each, is being replaced by the overpriced under performing F-35 Fighter program. A single F-35 is expected to cost between $120 to $150 million when all is said and done, and thats not including the cost of the weapons system which could cost another $184 million per unit. This doesnt even take into account the operational cost per hour for the F-35.
The Air Force will be forced to look at cutting single-mission aircraft under continuing budget cuts because more savings will be realized by ending the full weapon system, including infrastructure and training, as opposed to cutting just squadrons. With the F-35 coming online to take over the close-air support role, the venerable Thunderbolt II will be a likely target, Gen. Mike Hostage told reporters at the Air Force Associations Air and Space Conference.
This is not something I want to do, Hostage said, explaining that no decisions had been made.
Hostage said he had already talked to Army officials about losing the A-10 and using other jets to take over the close-air support role. The Army was not happy about the possibility, Hostage said.
I will not lose what we have gained in how we learned to support the Army, Hostage said. I had to make sure the Army understood that I am not backing away from the mission.
Hostage said the service can do the close-air support role with the F-35, but it would be more expensive and not as impressive without the famous GAU-8 Avenger 30 millimeter gun.
In a perfect world, I would have 1,000 A-10s, Hostage said. I cant afford it. I cant afford the fleet I have now. If I cut the fleet in half, do I save enough to get through this problem?
The USAF has put Americas cheapest, most reliable, mission survivable attack jets on the chopping block. The A-10 Thunderbolt, most known for its 30 mm GAU-8/A Avenger Gatling cannon, has been in service for over 30 years and is on the brink of retirement, thanks to budget cuts. It was a key player in the Gulf War taking out 900+ Iraqi tanks, 2,000 military vehicles, and 1,200 artillery fixtures. The A-10, which costs approximately $13 million each, is being replaced by the overpriced under performing F-35 Fighter program. A single F-35 is expected to cost between $120 to $150 million when all is said and done, and thats not including the cost of the weapons system which could cost another $184 million per unit. This doesnt even take into account the operational cost per hour for the F-35.
The Air Force will be forced to look at cutting single-mission aircraft under continuing budget cuts because more savings will be realized by ending the full weapon system, including infrastructure and training, as opposed to cutting just squadrons. With the F-35 coming online to take over the close-air support role, the venerable Thunderbolt II will be a likely target, Gen. Mike Hostage told reporters at the Air Force Associations Air and Space Conference.
This is not something I want to do, Hostage said, explaining that no decisions had been made.
Hostage said he had already talked to Army officials about losing the A-10 and using other jets to take over the close-air support role. The Army was not happy about the possibility, Hostage said.
I will not lose what we have gained in how we learned to support the Army, Hostage said. I had to make sure the Army understood that I am not backing away from the mission.
Hostage said the service can do the close-air support role with the F-35, but it would be more expensive and not as impressive without the famous GAU-8 Avenger 30 millimeter gun.
In a perfect world, I would have 1,000 A-10s, Hostage said. I cant afford it. I cant afford the fleet I have now. If I cut the fleet in half, do I save enough to get through this problem?
Sep 27, 2013 22:37:42 #
Replacing the A-10 Warthog with the F-35 for CAS, makes about as much sense as buying a "fleet" of Lamborghini's to use for taxi cabs.
Sep 27, 2013 22:53:51 #
Gitzo UH wrote:
Replacing the A-10 Warthog with the F-35 for CAS, makes about as much sense as buying a "fleet" of Lamborghini's to use for taxi cabs.
:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
Sep 28, 2013 00:03:51 #
Gitzo UH wrote:
Replacing the A-10 Warthog with the F-35 for CAS, makes about as much sense as buying a "fleet" of Lamborghini's to use for taxi cabs.
:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
Sep 28, 2013 08:23:22 #
rickerb
Loc: utah
bcheary wrote:
:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
Sep 28, 2013 08:24:19 #
rickerb
Loc: utah
Gitzo UH wrote:
Replacing the A-10 Warthog with the F-35 for CAS, makes about as much sense as buying a "fleet" of Lamborghini's to use for taxi cabs.
:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
Sep 28, 2013 09:05:10 #
oldgabby
Loc: Middle Tennessee
GOVERNMENT 'OFFICIALS' CONNECTED TO THE $$$$$ FLOW MAKE THESE DECISIONS!!
THAT MY FRIENDS, IS WHAT IS TERRIBLY WRONG WITH THIS COUNTRY AND WILL CAUSE IT'S FAILURE.
Maybe Obama has an Insurance License so he can make commissions on Obama Care.
THAT MY FRIENDS, IS WHAT IS TERRIBLY WRONG WITH THIS COUNTRY AND WILL CAUSE IT'S FAILURE.
Maybe Obama has an Insurance License so he can make commissions on Obama Care.
Sep 28, 2013 09:10:07 #
oldgabby wrote:
GOVERNMENT 'OFFICIALS' CONNECTED TO THE $$$$$ FLOW MAKE THESE DECISIONS!!
THAT MY FRIENDS, IS WHAT IS TERRIBLY WRONG WITH THIS COUNTRY AND WILL CAUSE IT'S FAILURE.
Maybe Obama has an Insurance License so he can make commissions on Obama Care.
THAT MY FRIENDS, IS WHAT IS TERRIBLY WRONG WITH THIS COUNTRY AND WILL CAUSE IT'S FAILURE.
Maybe Obama has an Insurance License so he can make commissions on Obama Care.
:thumbup: :thumbup:
Sep 29, 2013 23:57:23 #
Gitzo UH wrote:
Replacing the A-10 Warthog with the F-35 for CAS, makes about as much sense as buying a "fleet" of Lamborghini's to use for taxi cabs.
THE A-10 has the armour to survive direct hits in close air support as well as redundant sytems. The F-35 fly's much faster, giving the pilot less time over the target. The end result can only be a less accurate delivery to both sides of the target. The sad part is that it can't sustain the structural damage that an A-10 would.
Sep 30, 2013 00:05:13 #
SHUTERED wrote:
THE A-10 has the armour to survive direct hits in close air support as well as redundant sytems. The F-35 fly's much faster, giving the pilot less time over the target. The end result can only be a less accurate delivery to both sides of the target. The sad part is that it can't sustain the structural damage that an A-10 would.
:thumbup: :thumbup:
Sep 30, 2013 00:10:18 #
oldgabby wrote:
GOVERNMENT 'OFFICIALS' CONNECTED TO THE $$$$$ FLOW MAKE THESE DECISIONS!!
THAT MY FRIENDS, IS WHAT IS TERRIBLY WRONG WITH THIS COUNTRY AND WILL CAUSE IT'S FAILURE.
Maybe Obama has an Insurance License so he can make commissions on Obama Care.
THAT MY FRIENDS, IS WHAT IS TERRIBLY WRONG WITH THIS COUNTRY AND WILL CAUSE IT'S FAILURE.
Maybe Obama has an Insurance License so he can make commissions on Obama Care.
Yep, they're gonna replace a very good plane with one a zillion times more expensive and probably not as effective.... :shock: :shock:
Sep 30, 2013 00:28:40 #
Lmarc wrote:
Yep, they're gonna replace a very good plane with one a zillion times more expensive and probably not as effective.... :shock: :shock:
:thumbup: :thumbup:
Sep 30, 2013 05:26:41 #
Gitzo UH wrote:
Replacing the A-10 Warthog with the F-35 for CAS, makes about as much sense as buying a "fleet" of Lamborghini's to use for taxi cabs.
AND then complaining about budget restrictions. Government has devised hundred, if not thousands, of complaints about budget constraints.
Sep 30, 2013 11:51:02 #
Danilo wrote:
AND then complaining about budget restrictions. Government has devised hundred, if not thousands, of complaints about budget constraints.
:thumbup: :thumbup:
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