A-10

This decision by the Air Force brass demonstrates a bit of a conversion:

The U.S. Air Force wants to keep it's A-10 ground attack aircraft going at least another ten years. That means that over 300 of them have to be rebuilt and upgraded. That's because the A-10s were built three decades ago, with a service life of 4,000 hours in the air. Most have already got over 6,000 hours. So refurbishment will extend service life to 16,000 hours, and install an F-16 like cockpit, along with the ability to use a targeting pod and deliver GPS and laser guided bombs. This makes the A-10 the most versatile ground support aircraft in service. The A-10 still has its 30mm cannon, which, while designed to destroying armored vehicles, has proved useful against all manner of targets. The targeting pod also enables A-10 pilots to cruise around at night, and get a high-resolution view of what's going on down there. The infantry depend on the extra eye in the sky, and the ability to deliver anything from 30mm cannon fire, to Maverick missiles to 500 pound JDAM smart bombs.

The U.S. Air Force has long hated the A-10--Congress forced it on them, they tried to retire it, but didn't after Congress threatened to give it to the Army. The A-10 was the prefect target of Air Force brass's ire precisely because it is an unsexy, unsophisticated workhorse without much of the technological wizardry found in the far more attractive F-22s and B-2s.

But, in the era of assymetrical warfare, adding B-2 Stealth Bombers to the budget don't seem like the best use of resources. The A-10 is workhorse that can be run on the cheap, and is probably one of the best air assets we have in this type of combat where air superiority is already has been acheived. It's great at causing maximum damage to ground targets, because of it's design that allows it to make multiple passes at low-levels to ensure that more entrenched and fortified positions are taken out without needing multiple sorties that other fighters require (such as the F-16, F-15 & F-18). Adding proven, tested, and modernized technology to this beast will make it even more formidable.

I'm not sure what drove this decision, but if the Air Force brass is coming around after 30 years, it is a good thing.

UPDATE: Good timing! R.A. Allen writes about how they are using the A-10 over in Afghanistan. Plus, there is a great video on the A-10 using its 30 mm gun. One of the goals in my life will be to make sure I never find myself on its receiving end.