SUBSIM Radio Room Forums - View Single Post - A-10 Warthogs Could Serve Until 2040

Stealhead · 07-22-11, 11:28 PM

That sounds like a bit of a stretch 2040(who knows though with the current "nextgen" programs progress and costs) to me but I do know that the A-10 is an "in" plane with the USAF at the moment.Currently many ANG and Reserve units are turning in their F-16s for A-10s mainly because the current conflict in Afghanistan suits the A-10 very nicely and the A-10C is much more capable a COIN air frame than any other USAF air craft including older non upgraded A-10s.

I have a friend a Captain who works in intel with USAF fighter and bomber squadrons(he is the guy that tells the pilots what the bad guys are supposed to have might be capable of) he told me that some brass in the USAF are wanting to acquire a turboprop COIN platform something like the Texan II http://www.defensemedianetwork.com/s...ano-continues/ (already used as a trainer) to perform the COIN mission with the Hog.

Funny as the A-10 was on the chopping block in the late 1980s even due to then fears that Soviet air defense was too strong then it got a re-birth during Desert Storm, for a while in the mid to late 90s most became OA-10s a some what lowered status then in the mid 2000s up the Hog has been born again.

I find the fact that the A-10C is replacing F-16 in some wings very ironic as at one time in the F-16 was taking over the A-10s role now the tables are turned and the Hog gets the last laugh or snort.The improvements that the A-10C has such as the ability to employe JDAMS among other avionics improvements is a huge factor in all of this as is the fact that some of the older F-16s can be sold or loaned to allied nations so it is more multifaceted then it first seems.

I love the Hog though my first base was Davis Mothan(DM on the tail where the A-10 in the pic above is from) I used to smell the jet fuel 10 feet away from A-10s and work in direct support of them every day so I was a member of the Air Force not the Chair Force.

07-22-11, 11:28 PM	#2
Stealhead Navy Seal Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Kentucky Posts: 5,421 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	That sounds like a bit of a stretch 2040(who knows though with the current "nextgen" programs progress and costs) to me but I do know that the A-10 is an "in" plane with the USAF at the moment.Currently many ANG and Reserve units are turning in their F-16s for A-10s mainly because the current conflict in Afghanistan suits the A-10 very nicely and the A-10C is much more capable a COIN air frame than any other USAF air craft including older non upgraded A-10s. I have a friend a Captain who works in intel with USAF fighter and bomber squadrons(he is the guy that tells the pilots what the bad guys are supposed to have might be capable of) he told me that some brass in the USAF are wanting to acquire a turboprop COIN platform something like the Texan II http://www.defensemedianetwork.com/s...ano-continues/ (already used as a trainer) to perform the COIN mission with the Hog. Funny as the A-10 was on the chopping block in the late 1980s even due to then fears that Soviet air defense was too strong then it got a re-birth during Desert Storm, for a while in the mid to late 90s most became OA-10s a some what lowered status then in the mid 2000s up the Hog has been born again. I find the fact that the A-10C is replacing F-16 in some wings very ironic as at one time in the F-16 was taking over the A-10s role now the tables are turned and the Hog gets the last laugh or snort.The improvements that the A-10C has such as the ability to employe JDAMS among other avionics improvements is a huge factor in all of this as is the fact that some of the older F-16s can be sold or loaned to allied nations so it is more multifaceted then it first seems. I love the Hog though my first base was Davis Mothan(DM on the tail where the A-10 in the pic above is from) I used to smell the jet fuel 10 feet away from A-10s and work in direct support of them every day so I was a member of the Air Force not the Chair Force. Last edited by Stealhead; 07-22-11 at 11:38 PM.