Air Force Chief Says Cutting A-10 Fleet Would Save $3.7 Billion

[unhappycamper]

http://breakingdefense.com/2013/12/air-force-chief-says-cutting-a-10-fleet-would-save-3-7-billion/



Air Force Chief Says Cutting A-10 Fleet Would Save $3.7 Billion
By Colin Clark
on December 11, 2013 at 5:26 PM

Some members of Congress won’t like this, no matter how compelling the numbers are. But Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh said this morning that mothballing the beloved A-10 Warthog fleet could save the service a substantial $3.7 billion, a compelling amount of money in the face of the $12 billion the Air Force must save each year for the next decade in the face of sequestration. (Can you hear Sen. Kelly Ayotte’s teeth grinding?)

Welsh — keenly aware members of Congress would read his remarks — made clear no decision has been made yet: “I don’t know what’s going to happen with the A-10.” But the Air Force has done the numbers on the A-10 as well as the KC-10 fleet, which it also may mothball for savings Welsh estimated at $2.5 billion.

There’s also the grim calculus of risk. Welsh — a former Warthog pilot and guy who studied ground tactics at the Army’s Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth – said destroying the mass of an enemy’s air force (the second echelon, known to most as the reserve) saves the most lives on the ground and at sea, although he also said that close air support (the A-10?s speciality) is very important.

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Conservatives in the House and a smattering of liberals are already counterattacking the budget deal. The right swears up and down that the deal will increase deficits (hey guys, remember how you wasted all that money shutting down the federal government?) and the left says the F-35, those bloated staffs and other military extras could easily be cut to keep us within the limits set by sequestration without hurting the military.

[jollyreaper2112]

1. Idiots

Junk the 22 and 35 and save trillions. Those aircraft are beyond useless.

[Sherman A1]

2. Agreed

The AF has never really wanted the A-10, but it's the one that should be kept, replacing and upgrading airframes as needed. The F22 and 35 as you have said, not so much.

[jollyreaper2112]

3. the whole military is dazzled with bullshit

Soldiers are on foodstamps while the Pentagon wastes trillions on weapons that don't work. Why? You don't get kickbacks on soldier pay, not unless you can work out a voucher system with Walmart. Cozy relations with weapons contractors means admirals and generals retire comfy. And let's not forget the politicians feeding at the trough.

Our military-industrial complex does a fantastic job of enriching the people in charge of it, not so well at actually, you know, defending the country.

[westerebus]

4. Give them to the Marines.

We love old used up not worth the cost to keep it stuff like that...