The Air Force has 283 A-10s divided into nine squadrons, and as DefenseNews reports today, the service's 2018 budget includes money to operate and maintain all of them. The problem is that these older planes need new wing sets because many of the wings are reaching the end of their operational lifetimes. However, the budget funds new wings for only six squadrons, or 173 planes. Do the math and you can see that leaves 110 Warthogs out in the cold.
The short-term solution seems to be for Congress to approve the money for A-10 wings that the Pentagon asked for in its "unfunded priorities" list, which, as we explained earlier this week, is basically the military's wish list for things it would love to have if the money is there. That won't pay for all these new Boeing wings, though. So the Warthog saga slogs on.
The short-term solution seems to be for Congress to approve the money for A-10 wings that the Pentagon asked for in its "unfunded priorities" list, which, as we explained earlier this week, is basically the military's wish list for things it would love to have if the money is there. That won't pay for all these new Boeing wings, though. So the Warthog saga slogs on.
