Farli fuori una volta per tutte ..... ma con un trucco .....
..... the Air Force command has persisted, deciding in 2013 that it would exploit the threat of sequester to “divest” the entire inventory of 283 active and reserve A-10s.
Wanting to examine the issue in more depth, Congress put those plans on hold for 2014.
And now for 2015, responding to a groundswell of support from ground troops, forward air controllers and pilots, Congress has added money or language—or both—to each version of its defense authorization and appropriations bills in both the House and Senate to retain the entire A-10 force in 2015, including both pilots and maintenance personnel.
In the face of this explicit instruction in four different versions of the House and Senate defense bills, the Air Force has concocted a new pretext to continue its longstanding divestiture campaign—retaining the A-10 will slow down the already years-behind-schedule F-35 stealth fighter.
Fonte ..... "The U.S. Air Force Is Trying to Trick Us Into Getting Rid of the A-10" .....
Lite USAF/Congresso .....ci si sta forse avviando verso un compromesso .....
The US Air Force is trying to work out a compromise with Congress to retire a percentage of the A-10 fleet in order to move maintainers to the F-35 joint strike fighter, according to two service officials.
The Air Force is in discussion with congressional leaders about the possibility of retiring three active-duty squadrons, or roughly 72 A-10 aircraft.
While that is well short of retiring the whole fleet, even this targeted retirement would help with what the service is describing as a major crunch in available maintenance personnel
A plan by the US Air Force to partially retire the A-10 Warthog fleet appears to be dead on arrival, based on comments made by top Senate and House members Thursday.
That was the unambiguous stance taken by Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., and Rep. Ron Barber, D-Ariz., during an event rallying support for the A-10 on Capitol Hill.
Congresso vs. USAF ..... sugli A-10 ormai è lite aperta .....
After a relatively quiet summer, the battle for the future of the A-10 Warthog exploded in the last two weeks, reopening deep fissures between Congress and the Air Force that seem to show the two sides at a total stalemate.
The A-10 issue — the Air Force wants to scrap it, Congress wants to keep it — has aroused a passionate array of protectors in a way the Air Force seemed unprepared to deal with.
At this point, neither side in the debate is willing to trust the other's ideas or facts.
Li vorrebbero volentieri eliminare ..... però, al momento, pare non possano farne a meno .....
A-10s Support Inherent Resolve .....
Marc V. Schanz - 11/26/2014
The first A-10s recently redeployed from Afghanistan to the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing at an undisclosed base in the Gulf region, marking the first confirmed deployment of the close air support aircraft in support of anti-ISIS operations in Iraq and Syria.
The A-10s, assigned to the 122nd Fighter Wing at Fort Wayne ANGS, Ind., arrived in the Gulf Nov. 17-21 and are now flying in theater as the 163rd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron.
They will work with coalition forces to support Operation Inherent Resolve, and other "regional operations," according to a Nov. 24 Air Forces Central Command release (*).
"The A-10s now will only be supporting military requirements in the Gulf region, including but not limited to, Operation Inherent Resolve," AFCENT spokesman Lt. Col. Tadd Sholtis told Air Force Magazine.
Before relocating to the Gulf, the 122nd Fighter Wing briefly deployed to Afghanistan to meet close air support needs driven by the withdrawal of partner nation CAS in Afghanistan, a "temporary but urgent requirement for additional CAS during the most recent period of base closures or transfers," and other "transition operations" as the US and NATO forces wind down their combat presence in the country and transition to an advise and assist role, said Sholtis.
The aircraft will now operate under the recently reactivated 332nd Air Expeditionary Group, which previously stood down in 2012 after years of supporting combat operations in Iraq.
House and Senate negotiators have agreed on a Pentagon policy measure that blocks A-10 retirements .....
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
The Air Force had proposed retiring its A-10 attack plane fleet to save billions over the jets’ remaining life.
But lawmakers rejected the idea, saying, among other arguments, the planes are needed now in Iraq.
It appears American warplanes—including low- and slow-flying A-10 Warthog attack jets—have struck Islamic State forces in western Iraq, possibly in order to protect the strategic Haditha Dam.
A video posted to Youtube depicts at least one A-10—the heavily-armored planes usually fly in pairs—circling over a town, firing its devastating 30-millimeter cannon at targets on the ground.
The gun’s distinctive buuuurp sound is clearly audible.
Fonte ..... A-10s Defend Western Iraq’s Strategic Dam" .....
The A-10 no longer meets the requirements for combat in the Middle East, he (Gen. Michael Hostage, Air Combat Command commander) said at an Air Force Association breakfast in Arlington, Virginia.
Nel frattempo ..... il generale Hostage è andato in pensione .....
U.S. Air Force Gen. Mike Hostage renders one of his final salutes as commander of Air Combat Command to U.S. Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Larry O. Spencer during the change of command ceremony at Langley Air Force Base, Va., Nov. 4, 2014.
Hostage also retired after 37 years of service in the Air Force.
(U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Candice Page/Released)
If the Air Force had a new ground attack plane in development, or the F-35 was better suited to the mission; there wouldn’t be so much resistance to scrapping the A-10.
But that isn’t the case; the Air Force, for whatever reason they claim, wants to leave A-10, and by extension any real commitment to the close air support mission, in the dust.
But that mission will always be important; whether fighting ISIS in the Middle East or shredding tanks in some future conventional war, troops on the ground will always find themselves needing close air support.
It’s time for the Air Force to realize that they have the responsibility to provide it.
Air Force tactical air assets are participating in a large joint service live fire, close air support exercise (*) hosted by the Army’s 1st Armored Division at Fort Bliss, Texas.
A-10s from the 74th Fighter Squadron at Moody AFB, Ga., are flying close air support missions, supported by joint terminal attack controllers from the 7th Air Support Operations Squadron, who are also guiding assets such as the U-28A, MQ-1B Predator, MQ-9 Reaper, and F-16s during Exercise Iron Strike, which runs through Dec. 13.
The purpose of the exercise is to train and certify US Army gun crews in joint fire integration activities with CAS and artillery support working in concert, said USAF Capt. Kyle Spain, the 7th ASOS executive officer and lead Air Force planner for Iron Strike.
The exercise has a lot of players and moving parts and is meant to integrate the Army’s “scheme of maneuver via their armor on the ground” with assets such as AH-64 Apache attack helicopters and USAF CAS assets, said Maj. Dan Edgar, the 74th FS assistant director of operations.
That’s a training opportunity that has not been available to Moody’s A-10 pilots previously, he added.
A-10 pilots and others, as a result, have to train to fly above, next to, or in between friendly fires, Edgar noted.
A combat controller from the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron at Hurlburt Field, Fla., communicates with A-10C Thunderbolt II pilots, Dec. 3, 2014, at the White Sands Missile Range, N.M.
Air Force Photo by A1C Ryan Callaghan
La nuova legge di bilancio USA protegge, per ora, lo A-10 .....
..... the bill offers some protections for the A-10, known as the Warthog, which is much loved by infantry troops but slated for retirement by the Air Force.
A group of senators including John McCain, R-Ariz., and Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., championed the aircraft and waged a campaign over the past six months to keep it flying.
They say the A-10 is the most capable at close air support operations in war zones and that it saves American lives.
The $495 billion NDAA blocks the retirement but allows the service to reduce maintain and flying time for dozens of Warthogs to save money.
Maintainers at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., returned an A-10C ground-attack jet to flying status after its pilot had to make a belly landing with it several months before, according to a base release.
The aircraft, serial number 78-0694, made a wheels-up landing back in September after the main gear failed to extend following a routine sortie, states the Dec. 11 release.
"The pilot made a great decision landing it on its belly," said SSgt. Justin Post, dedicated crew chief and lead mechanic with the 357th Aircraft Maintenance Unit.
"There could have been a lot more damage," he added. The A-10 is a rugged model and designed to land on its belly without significant damage.
But due to the impact of the Sept. 30 landing, Davis-Monthan maintainers were forced to partially disassemble and inspect the aircraft for stress damage.
"The longest part was when we had to take off all of the bolts from the wings and send them for nondestructive inspections," said Post.
Following an incident investigation and nearly two months of inspections, the A-10 on Dec. 5 completed a functional check flight and was cleared to return to flying status, states the release.
The airplane is assigned to Davis-Monthan's 355th Fighter Wing.
Crews remove the A-10 from a Davis-Monthan runway on Sept. 30, 2014, after it made a belly landing on the previous day.
Davis-Monthan photo
McCain categorico ..... "Lo A-10 continuerà ad far parte della difesa del paese per gli anni a venire." .....
Incoming Armed Forces Committee Chairman John McCain has once again come out in support of the A-10 aircraft, which narrowly escaped being retired in a cost-cutting move.
During a visit to the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona, McCain, said it will remain as part of the country’s defense for years to come.
Members of the 354th Fighter Squadron, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., the 74th Fighter Squadron, Moody AFB, Ga., and the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla., traveled to White Sands Missile Range for training Dec. 3-4.
U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Jesse Galt, 23rd Special Tactics Squadron Gold Team assistant team leader based out of Hurlburt Field, Fla., observes an A-10C Thunderbolt II of the 74th Fighter Squadron, Moody Air Force Base, Ga., approaching a covert landing strip at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., Dec. 4, 2014.
The landing strip was lined with infrared lights that could only be viewed with the aid of a night vision device.
(U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Chris Massey/Released)
..... nel suo proposito di mandare definitivamente in pensione gli A-10 .....
The Pentagon renewed its commitment Friday to retiring the Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt ground attack aircraft and closing excess military bases in the U.S., setting up another battle with Congress in budget hearings to begin next month. Congress last year rejected the Air Force’s push to mothball the A-10, popularly known as the Warthog, and the Pentagon’s proposal to establish a new Base Re-Alignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) but Rear Adm. John Kirby, the Pentagon press secretary, said both issues would be a top priority for the Defense Department in hearings on the 2016 defense budget.
“Nothing changes about our desire to retire the aircraft,” Kirby said at a Pentagon news conference.
Ho l'impressione che, prima che finisca il gioco, se ne vedranno ancora delle belle ..... perché non so se i 'generaloni' dell'USAF riusciranno a spuntarla su quei mastini che rispondono ai nomi di Ayotte e McCain ..... che ricoprono ora importanti cariche nell'ambito del nuovo Senato USA .....
Vedasi in merito ..... dal 'Daily Report' dell' AFA .....
SASC Committee Chairs Shuffle Under McCain .....
Marc V. Schanz (1/13/2015)
With the 114th Congress under way and Republicans in charge of the Senate, leadership slots on the Senate Armed Services Committee’s various panels have changed under SASC Chairman Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Ranking Member Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.).
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.) is now the ranking member of the AirLand subcommittee, which oversees tactical air matters across the services, with the gavel going to Sen. Tom. Cotton (R-Ark.) a newly elected senator and former Army infantry officer.
The Emerging Threats and Capabilities subcommittee is now chaired by Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) with Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) serving as ranking member.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) chairs the Personnel subcommittee with Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) serving as ranking member; and frequent McCain ally Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) chairs the Readiness and Management Support subcommittee, with Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) now the ranking member.
The Seapower panel has new leadership with McCain and Reed’s accession.
Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) now chairs the panel and Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) serving as the ranking member.
Strategic Forces’ former chairman Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.) lost his bid for re-election, and with the new Congress the former ranking member, Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), has taken over the gavel.
McCain said he hopes the panel continues its bipartisan tradition of giving service members the “authorities, leadership, training, equipment, and resources needed to successfully achieve their missions on our nation’s behalf.”
The Air Force wants to retire the A-10 fleet to pay sequestration bills, but today the aircraft is not only still in the inventory due to Congressional intervention, but is also deployed to the Middle East and conducting missions against ISIS extremist forces, which occupy large swaths of territory in Iraq and Syria.
When asked during a press briefing in the Pentagon on Thursday if the Air Force was having second thoughts about its plans, Secretary Deborah Lee James and Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh held firm.
James said there are a number of strike platforms flying sorties against ISIS, including F-16s and F-15Es, and while the A-10 is a “great contributor,” it now flies only 11 percent of these missions.
Even if the Air Force's adjusted plan was approved, which would retire the A-10s over five years, they would still be in the inventory today, James said, and it “makes good sense to use them.”
Welsh said the debate remains an “emotional issue,” and he expects it to be.
But he emphasized that budget sequestration is still driving decisions.
“Although we were not allowed to move forward with our retirement plan, … we were funded to keep operating" the A-10 fleet, said Welsh. “if we have a conflict that we can use it in, we should use it,” he said.
insomma , i generaloni vogliono giocare con l'F35 , mentre i pragmatici conservatori al congresso vogliono continuare ( giustamente ) a tenere in linea il facocero .
Lunga vita al facocero .
giragyro ha scritto:insomma , i generaloni vogliono giocare con l'F35 , mentre i pragmatici conservatori al congresso vogliono continuare ( giustamente ) a tenere in linea il facocero .
Lunga vita al facocero.
Al quale 'Facocero' (ed al suo prorogato pensionamento) i 'generaloni' dell'Air Force stanno da tempo attribuendo la responsabilità di un probabile ritardo della 'IOC' dello F-35A in quanto si dicono impossibilitati a trasferire personale di manutenzione di provata competenza da una linea all'altra .....
Welsh: F-35A IOC at Risk .....
John A. Tirpak (1/16/2015)
Initial operational capability for the F-35A—scheduled for August of 2016—is “at risk,” if Congress turns down the new force structure proposals from the Air Force in the service's upcoming Fiscal 2016 budget, said Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh.
In a “State of the Air Force” press briefing at the Pentagon on Thursday, Welsh acknowledged that the service is struggling to come up with enough experienced maintainers to transition to the F-35.
The Air Force had planned to shift them from the A-10, but Congress wouldn’t allow the A-10’s retirement in Fiscal 2015.
“We don’t have 1,000 extra maintainers waiting around for work,” said Welsh.
“If the proposals we come forward with” in the new budget “are not agreed to, then IOC is at risk,” he said.
Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James, sitting next to Welsh, said “I think we’re getting close to a solution” to the maintainer issue, but did not disclose details, saying they would be clear in the budget proposal.
Welsh said, however, that IOC is less important to him than full operational capability, when a more sizable force of F-35s will be ready to go to war.
Nevertheless, he said flatly, “I see nothing … at this point” that would spell a delay for either IOC or FOC with the F-35A.
At a recent meeting of the Tactics Review Board at Nellis AFB, Nev., the second in command at Air Combat Command reportedly instructed the gathering they were not to speak to Congress regarding USAF's plan to retire the A-10 outside of approved channels. Doing so, said Maj. Gen. James Post, could be construed as "treason."
The remarks set off a flurry of criticism ..... http://www.jqpublic-blog.com/creeping-f ... air-force/ ..... and ACC officials have attempted to clarify the alleged remarks.
Post "is not restricting nor implying to restrict members of the Air Force in communicating with members of Congress," ACC spokeswoman Maj. Genieve David told Air Force Magazine.
Post was trying to "overemphasize a serious point: the Air Force's decisions on long-term choices have been made, and the service's position communicated," she added.
Debate will continue on these issues "at the highest levels," but the primary job for airmen is to "continue to execute our mission and duties."
Individual airmen should not "engage in public debate or advocacy for policy," she said, emphasizing there are "superior venues" to advocate for policy changes such as through veteran service organizations.
Post was seeking to highlight ACC's responsibility to organize, train, and equip the Combat Air Force while preparing for future challenges.
"He called on airmen to support decisions made to that end," said David.
Brigadier General James N. "Bull" Post III exits an F-16 Fighting Falcon Mar. 3, 2011, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska.
General Post completed his 2565th sortie and achieved 4000.4 flying hours in an F-16 Fighting Falcon.
The milestone places him in an elite corner of the F-16 community.
(U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Christopher Boitz)
dalle mie passate esperienze di mangiafango , quando sei in una postazione isolata , con gli " ostili " che convergono supportati da un tiro costante di mortai di medio calibro verso di te fa molto molto piacere avere un simpatico aereo che ti volteggia sulla testa ( nel nostro caso spesso erano gli AMX dell'Ami oppure i Jaguar inglesi , un paio di volte abbiamo ricevuto le visite degli A129 ) e che ti leva le castagne più bruciate dal fuoco ...l'idea che quello stesso mestiere lo faccia un Cpu a magari 50 miglia di distanza .....mmmmmmmmmmmmmm no buono .
giragyro ha scritto:..... fa molto molto piacere avere un simpatico aereo che ti volteggia sulla testa (nel nostro caso spesso erano gli AMX dell'Ami oppure i Jaguar inglesi, un paio di volte abbiamo ricevuto le visite degli A129) e che ti leva le castagne più bruciate dal fuoco ... l'idea che quello stesso mestiere lo faccia un Cpu a magari 50 miglia di distanza ..... mmmmmmmmmmmmmm no buono.
No 'bbuono ..... così parlò Andy Luotto .....
A parte gli scherzi ..... come non darti ragione ?
E pensare che quei 'signori' vorrebbero affidare un ruolo di tal genere nientepopodimenoché allo F-35 .....
AYOTTE for President 2016 ..... .
Ultima modifica di richelieu il 22 gennaio 2015, 15:30, modificato 1 volta in totale.
noi operavamo in un ambiente collinare , molto vegetato . spesso dovevamo muoverci da una cima all'altra con gli " ostili " che ovviamente convergevano da due direttrici differenti dal fondovalle .
Non so se voi qualcuno di voi abbia mai avuto esperienza sul campo di cosa significhi avere necessità di un C.A.S. e sopratutto con una certa urgenza . Lo si richiede , se non previsto dal piano missione , solo se davvero si è nella cosidetta " sostanza organica marrone puzzolente " e non è sempre scontato che la richiesta poi sia accettata o che ci sia qualche " ombrello " disponibile in zona .
Voce del sén fuggita ..... 2.0 ..... ovvero se il potente Senatore McCain si ina .....
SASC Chair Calls for Investigation into ACC Leader’s Comments .....
Marc V. Schanz (1/26/2015)
The fallout from the remarks delivered by Maj. Gen. James Post at a recent gathering of the Air Force's Tactics Review Board has drawn the ire of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), the newly elevated chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Post reportedly told attending airmen that USAF's budgetary priorities are clear and any airman who engages with their member of Congress unilaterally on matters related to the A-10 could be committing "treason."
The remarks drew condemnation and criticism, but Air Combat Command claims Post is not attempting to restrict airmen from communicating with Congress rather he was attempting to "overemphasize a serious point" regarding USAFs long-term decisions and airmen's role with regards to advocacy for policy.
McCain is now calling on Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James to "conduct an investigation into this issue," McCain spokesman Dustin Walker told Air Force Magazine, though he did not elaborate on what further action the senator might take.
McCain has frequently criticized USAF's plan to retire the A-10, but has also sought to highlight the damage sequestration-related cuts have incurred on military readiness and modernization.
He will hold a hearing this week with the Joint Chiefs to discuss the latter ..... http://www.armed-services.senate.gov/he ... l-security
Voce del sén fuggita ..... 2.1 ..... INDAGATO .....
The Air Force Inspector General's Office is investigating allegations that a two-star general told a group of officers they were committing treason if they worked with lawmakers against the service's own contentious plans to retire to the A-10.
Voce del sén fuggita ..... 2.2 ..... ora c'è chi dice : CACCIATELO VIA .....
The watchdog group Project on Government Oversight is calling for a two-star general to be fired over allegedly saying officers who advocate for the A-10 are committing treason.
POGO on Tuesday posted online an electronic form letter calling for Maj. Gen. James Post to be removed from his position as vice commander of Air Combat Command.
Visitors to the site can sign the letter, add a personalized message, and send it to Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James.
Via dal gelo e ..... addestramento in Arizona .....
Desert Home Away From Home .....
(1/28/2015)
Some 200 airmen and 10 A-10s from the Michigan Air National Guard’s 127th Wing left Selfridge ANG Base northeast of Detroit to train at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., according to a unit release.
This two-week deployment is part of Operation Snowbird, under which northern-tier Air Guard units have the opportunity to drill in warm-weather conditions in southern Arizona during the winter months.
"Training at Davis-Monthan in Snowbird is like a scrimmage before playing in the big game,” said Lt. Col. Shawn Holtz, commander of the wing’s 107th Fighter Squadron.
“Everybody gets a chance to sharpen their skills and build up the team," he said.
The Selfridge airmen departed for Arizona on Jan. 23; they will focus on search-and-recovery training during their stint at Davis-Monthan, states the release.
While there, they will be able to nearly double their normal daily sortie rate.
Mi permetto il lusso (con i tempi che corrono) di avere qualche dubbio .....
Intanto ..... la Senatrice .....
..... torchia il generale Welsh .....
Ayotte Presses Welsh on Post A-10 Comments .....
Marc V. Schanz (1/29/2015)
Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) pressed Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh during Wednesday’s Senate Armed Services Committee hearing to publically support airmen’s rights to communicate with members of Congress.
The exchange comes after Air Combat Command’s Vice Commander Maj. Gen. James Post told members of a Tactics Review Board at Nellis AFB, Nev., that speaking to Congress regarding the Air Force’s plan to divest the A-10 could be construed as “treason.” Ayotte wanted Welsh to promise the Air Force would not retaliate against airmen who reported the comments.
“There is an investigation ongoing into that incident,” Welsh told Ayotte, noting he contacted Post and ACC boss Gen. Hawk Carlisle directly after he learned of the comments.
The Secretary of the Air Force’s Inspector General is now running an investigation, and Welsh said he cannot elaborate on the incident “until the facts are reported to my Secretary.”
Pressed by Ayotte to clarify his position on airmen’s responsibilities and rights, Welsh said he supports the ability for airmen to lawfully communicate with Congress and give their “honest opinion.” Ayotte said she also heard reports that USAF was conducting an investigation into whom reported Post’s comments, to which Welsh said he does not support any retaliatory investigation and if one is under way it is not under the auspices of his office or the office of Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James.
Neanche per sogno ..... tant'è vero che ci stanno riprovando .....
The US Air Force will include both the U-2 spy plane and Global Hawk unmanned system in their FY16 budget request, but will once again ask to retire the A-10 Warthog, sources tell Defense News.
La senatrice Ayotte ..... ha trovato una validissima alleata ..... una neo-eletta ..... nonché ex pilota di A-10 .....
One of the newest lawmakers on Capitol Hill is a former A-10 driver, and she is wasting no time protecting her former aircraft.
Rep. Martha McSally, a freshman Republican from Arizona, on Jan. 29 sent a letter to President Obama and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel urging them not to seek to retire the A-10 in their fiscal 2016 budget request, expected to be unveiled Feb. 2.
The A-10 has recently been deployed to the Middle East to fight the Islamic State terrorist group. The Air Force has said the A-10 has flown 11 percent of total Air Force sorties.
"This statistic contains an important caveat," McSally wrote. "Other Air Force assets have been engaged in operations against ISIS since August, but the Air Force did not start deploying the A-10 until November. That the A-10 was used in 11 percent of all operations in just three months signals the Air Force is frequently using the aircraft against the group.
Interessante come i generaloni tentino di prendere per il c..o i politici.
A quel livello devono essere politici anche loro...
In fin dei conti non hanno mica mentito.
Leonardo
Se l'uomo fosse stato creato per volare avrebbe avuto più soldi!
a ..... 
