US Deploys A-10s to Europe Amid Debate to Arm Ukraine

[jakeXT]

The U.S. military has deployed a dozen Cold War-era A-10 attack aircraft to Europe amid the escalating assault from pro-Russian separatists in the Ukraine, an official said.

The aircraft, known officially as the Thunderbolt II and unofficially as the Warthog, on Monday departed Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona for Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, according to Lt. Col. Christopher Karns, a spokesman for the Air Force at the Pentagon.

"While in Germany these aircraft will forward-deploy to locations in Eastern European NATO nations," he said in an e-mail. "Units will conduct training alongside our NATO allies to strengthen interoperability and to demonstrate U.S. commitment to the security and stability of Europe."

The deployment comes as President Barack Obama is weighing whether to approve the transfer of weapons in addition to non-lethal assistance to Ukraine.

http://www.military.com/daily-news/2015/02/10/us-deploys-a10s-to-europe-amid-debate-to-arm-ukraine.html

EUCOM announces USAF deployment in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve

"The United States Air Force deployed 12 A-10 Thunderbolt aircraft as part of a Theater Security Package in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve to Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. Approximately 300 Airmen and support equipment are deploying with the A-10s from the 355th Fighter Wing, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz. While in Germany these aircraft will forward-deploy to locations in Eastern European NATO nations. Units will conduct training alongside our NATO allies to strengthen interoperability and to demonstrate U.S. commitment to the security and stability of Europe," said U.S. Navy CAPT Greg Hicks, U.S. European Command spokesman.

http://www.eucom.mil/media-library/article/31956/eucom-announces-usaf-deployment-in-support-of-operation-atlantic-resolve

[ladjf]

1. The A10 is the perfect weapon for dealing with ISIS. I don't understand

why they haven't been deployed in Iraq and Syria. ISIS's armed pickup trucks are no match for the Warthog.

[Sherman A1]

2. Agreed

The A-10 is probably the perfect aircraft for most situations in today's world. I would think they would be a better buy than the F35's into which we are sinking so very much money.

[bemildred]

3. The Warthog, old, tried, and true.

And that's why the defense business hates it.

[jakeXT]

4. Air Force Data on Friendly Fire, Civilian Casualties Was Manipulated Against A-10

The Air Force manipulated data and omitted key stats in order to skew a comparison of civilian casualties and friendly fire deaths caused by close air support aircraft in Afghanistan, according to an analysis released today by the Project On Government Oversight (POGO).

The stats, which were recently reported by USA Today, were intended to bolster the Air Force’s campaign to retire the A-10 Warthog in favor of the much costlier and unproven F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

However, POGO’s analysis found that the A-10 is significantly safer than most of the other planes in the comparison. The POGO analysis notes that the Air Force manipulated the data to either exclude or include information that worked against the A-10.

For example, the data looking at civilian casualties excluded an event in 2009 in which a B-1 killed up to 147 civilians and wounded many more. Most importantly, the Air Force did not provide “kinetic” sortie information—those missions in which weapons were employed—that would put these statistics into important context.

http://www.pogo.org/blog/2015/02/air-force-data-on-friendly-fire-civilian-casulties-was-manipulated-against-a-10.html

[bemildred]

5. I am reminded of arguments I once had in I/P about whether the F-16 was a good

reconnaissance plane. The Israelis were using them to keep an eye on the jihadis in Gaza, during one of the wars, back before they had effective rockets, and I suggested that was a waste of money and they were probably not effective in that job. Ha ha! No, they are great for flying circles over Gaza, just what they were designed to do. And then there is Iron Dome and all that, a theatrical defense for theatrical wars, but they all pay very well. And in any real war you know all that shit will be the first stuff to get blown up.