(DODBuzz) – Old A-10 and New F-35 Both Win in Spending Deal – By Brendan McGarry (December 10th, 2014)

U.S. lawmakers late Tuesday unveiled a $1 trillion federal budget deal that benefits both fourth– and fifth-generation fighter jets, even the Vietnam-era A-10 aircraft.

The massive spending bill, called the Omnibus Appropriations Act, would avert a government shutdown this week and fund most federal agencies for the rest of the year, including the Defense Department.

The defense appropriations piece of the legislation includes an estimated $8.8 billion for 38 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters made by Lockheed Martin Corp. That’s four more of the fifth-generation, single-engine stealth fighters than the Pentagon requested for fiscal 2015, which began Oct. 1.

For Article In Full (published on December 10th, 2014), See : 

-> http://www.dodbuzz.com/2014/12/10/a10-and-f35-win-in-spending-deal/

 

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Republicans Press to Save A-10 Following New Air Force Proposal – By Bryant Jordan (November 12th, 2014)

Senate Republicans at the forefront of defending the A-10 Warthog from retirement will continue pressing their case on Thursday when they gather on Capitol Hill with veterans pushing the Air Force to keep the fleet alive.

Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, expected to chair the Senate Armed Services Committee starting in January, will be joined by other GOP members of the committee and two former airmen whose job was to call in close air support – the primary mission of the A-10.

The lawmakers’ move comes as the Air Force is trying to reach a compromise with the current Congress that would let it shut down three A-10 squadrons, or about 72 aircraft, but keep the rest of the fleet alive, according to a report by Defense News.

Air Force leaders have faced an uphill battle this past year in its bid to retire the plane, which is revered by ground troops who have counted on its powerful weaponry and accuracy to take out enemy fighters on the ground.

But with the midterm elections giving the Senate over to Republican leadership and the House’s existing GOP majority seeing a boost, the Air Force may find itself unable to retire the aircraft as many prominent Republicans have supported the fleet. (…)

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For Article In Full (published on November 12th, 2014), See : 

-> http://www.dodbuzz.com/2014/11/12/republicans-press-to-save-a-10-following-new-air-force-proposal/

Photo Credit : Ibid, 2014/11/12