It is at just such a crucial juncture that the great debate over the future of the A-10 Warthog and the F-35 Lightning II sounded louder than ever before, this time tied to budgetary constraints and realignment with changing threats facing the U.S. Air Force.
The A-10 called the “Warthog,” has been touted as having close-air support capability for the longest time ever in situations in Afghanistan.
Several Special Forces operators have repeatedly emphasized the life-saving firepower and endurance this aircraft has shown to be necessary for ground support operations.
Despite the sophisticated technology of the F-35, the long-loitering capability over battlefields, resistance against ground fire, and decisive firepower are still unmatched by the A-10.
The Warthog is reinforced, heavy in armament and design, in ground conflicts. According to some experts, it should be put in the custody of the U.S. Army to secure its operation as gloomy threats escalate internationally.
As the Pentagon continues to make tough choices between funding the A-10 and the new F-35 through the process of sequestration over the defense budget, Brandon J. Weichert, an ex-Congressional staffer, was initially still driving down this road, but after some compelling arguments from A-10 supporters, he switched stances and says that Special Forces operators shared gripping accounts of how the A-10 saved their lives in Taliban ambushes in Afghanistan and explained that no other aircraft could provide the same level of support.
The A-10, first flown in 1972, was primarily designed for close-in air support missions, which also greatly helped the symbiosis with the ground forces and airmen of the Tactical Air Control Party, thus effectively coordinating with airstrikes.
It also features a titanium bathtub surrounding the cockpit that protects the pilot from enemy fire.
It is precisely this endurance, coupled with firepower, that will see the Warthog stay relevant.
It can stay in combat zones for periods that faster air power such as the F-35 simply cannot do, therefore keeping its presence sustained over ground troops.
Its 30 mm GAU-8/A cannon is an iconic piece of ordnance, and the ordnance package of bombs, missiles, and so forth makes it the only truly versatile lethal platform.
But the Air Force continues to retire even more A-10s and plans to mothball 56 of them.
The 2025 budget proposal does include retirements in other aircraft as well: older F-15s and F-16s will be retired, saving more than $2 billion.
The concept is that the Air Force should invest in the F-35 and other high-end capabilities but simultaneously retire its older fleets, such as the A-10. The change has sparked fears of a close air support gap.
Dan Grazier, a senior policy fellow at the Project on Government Oversight, wrote that retiring the A-10 would leave the service without a dependable close air support option.
As the Air Force grapples with budgetary and strategic crises, the debate over the A-10 and F-35 underscores the complexity of modern military planning.