Support for retaining the A-10 Thunderbolt II in service with the US Air Force was given a boost on May 22, when the full US House, followed hours later by the Senate Armed Services Committee, both backed proposals to save the aircraft from retirement, at least for now. Both supported the $601 bn Defense Authorization Bill that will fund military spending for the next fiscal year, beginning on October 1. This includes legislation that would ban retirement of the A-10 for at least a year and fully-fund operation of the type through to the end of 2015, at least. Proposals to retire the 238-strong A-10 fleet, which the air force says would save $4.2bn over five years, had been announced on February 24 by US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel. Since then there has been an inevitable backlash against retirement of the elderly, but still highly-regarded, aircraft. However, there are still hurdles to overcome if the A-10 fleet is to be saved, as the full Senate must approve its version of the National Defense Authorisation Act and the President has to sign off the final version. The White House has already threatened to veto any version of the bill that exceeds the Pentagon's budget request.
No comments:
Post a Comment