FORT POLK, La. ---- The A-10 Thunderbolt II, nicknamed the "Warthog" because of its physical attributes, has played an important role in military missions since its introduction in the 1970s. But all good things, eventually … hesitantly yet necessarily … must come to an end The Warthog is destined for the chopping block as fiscal restraints and plans for future capabilities are considered by the military.
As Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh said during a State of the Air Force briefing held Jan. 15 at the Pentagon, "It's not about not liking or not wanting the A-10. It's about some very tough decisions that we have to make to recapitalize an Air Force for the threat 10 years from now."
Pilots and ground forces alike malign the divestment of this iconic aircraft, citing its proven battle record. But the aircraft's competency is not in question.
"No one is contesting the (A-10) platform, people or missions," said Air Force Lt. Col. Gage Evert, commander (and A-10 pilot), 548th Combat Training Squadron, housed here at the Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk. "But Air Force leadership is faced with fiscal constraints and has to make tough choices to prepare the Air Force for future fights. This is a necessary cut that has to happen."
Some would argue there is no viable replacement for the A-10 in a close air support role, although certain contenders do exist (such as the F-35 Lightning II, which many may recognize from the 2007 movie "Live Free or Die Hard.") "Military leadership has been very serious in identifying any shortcomings, and filling any gaps that (losing the aircraft) could cause. It is important that this divestment doesn't result in a mission failure or a degradation of Air Force support for boots on the ground," said Evert. "This is just the evolution of things … the evolution of our war fighting capability for the future."
Ground troops that have witnessed the lethality and effectiveness of the aircraft recognize it by the unique sound it makes as it fires 30mm rounds from the nose-mounted GAU-8 Avenger Gatling gun. The low-toned, jarring "BRRRRRRT" delivers armor-piercing rounds as the aircraft flies low to the ground, using its unique ability to "loiter" ---- traveling slow enough to do the most damage as it fires. Once the target is hit, the Warthog can quickly jet out of the area then re-appear just as quickly for another onslaught. For this capability, the A-10 is sometimes referred to as a "flying gun." The aircraft demonstrates great maneuverability at low air speeds and altitude and can operate in low ceiling and low visibility conditions. It can even be outfitted with night vision capabilities for night ops.
Armaments include 16,000 pounds of mixed ordnance carried under the wings and fuselage: 500-pound MK-82 and 2,000-pound MK-84 low/high drag bombs, incendiary cluster bombs, mine-dispensing munitions and combined effects munitions; AGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground and AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles; and the aforementioned Gatling gun, which can fire armor-piercing depleted uranium rounds and highly explosive incendiary rounds ---- at a rate of 3,900 rounds per minute.
That's a lot of muscle for a single aircraft. It's also a lot of responsibility for the pilot, the lone occupant of the aircraft and therefore also the triggerman. That's why the pilot depends on a Joint Terminal Attack Controller, or JTAC, to guide where and what is being fired upon. The JTAC is usually positioned with the battle commander, so he relies on information from the Joint Forward Observer, or JFO. The JFO is a Soldier at the front lines with the company that is engaging, reacting to or observing the enemy, and serves as a scout for the JTAC. The JFO tells the JTAC what's going on and gives locations for targets using the standard nine-line procedure (nine lines of information that includes where the friendly forces are in relation to the target, direction of travel or location of stationary target, number of vehicles or personnel observed, other assets in the area and more).
The JTAC can use the information to talk to the A-10 pilots and any other airborne platforms to provide what the ground troops need: Close air support, forward air support or search and rescue.
Because it was designed to fly in low, where it can easily be fired upon, it was built to withstand assault, making the survivability of the aircraft another impressive feature.
The pilot sits in what amounts to a titanium bathtub covered by a bulletproof canopy. The wings contain fuel tanks that are surrounded by self-sealing foam that not only stops any penetrating bullets, but also immediately repairs the hole. The fuel tanks in the fuselage are surrounded with bullet halting armor plating. The twin engines are mounted above the wings, preventing most debris from getting sucked in from below. Having two engines offers the added benefit of being able to stay in the air even if one engine is damaged. There are numerous reports of A-10s returning from their missions riddled with holes, missing half a wing or part of the tail section, leaking hydraulic fluid, and yet the pilots emerged from their cockpits relatively safe and sound.
The current JRTC rotation is among the last that will employ the Warthog for training purposes. The Air Force intends to retire 164 active-duty A-10s in fiscal year 2016, with those assigned to Guard and Reserve units being retired by 2019. This cut will save the Air Force about $4.2 billion over the next five years, according to Maj. Gen. Jim Martin, Air Force deputy assistant secretary for budget.
"I mean, certainly we all love the A-10," Martin said during a press conference at the Pentagon Feb. 2. "We have a transition plan to remove that aircraft (by) 2019, and we think it's a good plan, and we have a good plan on how to re-invest that savings into capabilities that can perform close air support (in lieu of the A-10)."
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