What do you think about the article, "US Air Force Manipulated A-10 Casualty Data?"

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 11:52:28 -0500

This would be not be a surprise to me, the Air Force is obsessed with fighters designed to fight an enemy that collapsed in 1991.

http://defensetech.org/2015/02/10/group-af-skewed-data-in-a-10-smear-campaign/#more-24522

Group: AF Skewed Data in A-10 'Smear Campaign'

The U.S. Air Forcemanipulated casualty datato make the A-10 attack aircraft appear more hazardousthan it really is, according to a watchdog group. The service "cherry-picked"information on civi...

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 25 at 2015 10:46 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 10:46:32 -0500

The USSR collapsed. Not Russia. Russia is still an adversary that is one of two serious challenges to our National Security. What is fact is that Russia still has a formidable Air Force, Navy and Army that needs to be countered.

But, even then, Russia is not the only reason to maintain an up to date air force, the PRC is also an active threat. The PRC is actively seeking to counter US Naval, Space and Aerospace systems in order to get a leg up on a potential fight with the United States. This is not speculation, this is fact.

While I agree that the A-10 is an effective CAS platform, I strongly disagree with your national security threat assessment.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 25 at 2015 11:56 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 11:56:14 -0500

The timing of that article was just too convenient so I was skepticle in the first place.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Feb 25 at 2015 7:56 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 19:56:18 -0500

The very nature of CAS is that sometimes friendlies get hit. They don't call it "close" for nothing....particularly when it's "danger close." IMHO this is essentially them trying to justify the hi-tech hoohahs on the F-35. Yup, buy the F-35 and you'll never have Blue on Blue again......

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 27 at 2015 1:51 AM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 Nov 2015 01:51:22 -0500

I don't want to believe that leadership would do something like this, however, I am also a realist. The bottom line question of getting rid of the A-10 is the dumbest idea ever. Fortunately, I do not see them getting much traction on it. Look at the other "old airframes currently in the inventory". There are still F-15s (supposed to have been replaced with the F-22) and the B-52 (supposed to have been retired with the B-1 and B-2). There does reach a point where a design is simply the best in the business. In CAS that is the A-10. It is tough, and deadly and not much else can fly low or slow enough to do what it does. As a member of a deployed A-10 unit, I have great pride in our unit and this aircraft. We are breaking unit records so to say that this aircraft can be replaced is laughable. Our unit has dropped close to twice what the previous unit of fast flyers did and that is not counting the 30mm usage.
Here is an idea for the leadership to think about. If they are worried about the age of the current fleet of A-10s, build new ones. Then one could upgrade the flight components and targeting systems all for way cheaper than the cost of the F-35. Worked for the C-130. How to pay for it? Easy, don't buy as many 35s which is still having issues getting combat ready and wont be able to do the job as well when it finally does.