A-10 Warthog on the Chopping Block Again

Last week the US Air Force announced, as part of a proposed series of budget cuts, that it was planning on cutting five squadrons of what has been perhaps the most useful manned aircraft in the Air Force's inventory over the past three decades: the A-10 Thunderbolt II. In turn, only one F-15 and one F-16 squadron would be cut even though our military hasn't faced seriously contested airspace at virtually any point this century.

What's more, neither the F-15 or F-16 have proven themselves as effective, including in terms of cost, as the A-10 in the role of providing close air support (CAS) for the army and marines. There is perhaps no other manned platform currently available for use in the close air support role that can match the A-10's; survivability, durability, protection, and armament - featuring a proven GAU-8/A Avenger 30mm gatling gun that has proven the bane of enemy targets as diverse as Iraqi T-72 tanks to Taliban footsoldiers.