In Defense Bill, Congress Rejects Bid to Retire A-10s, F-15Es

[daftandbarmy]

Stay of execution...

In Defense Bill, Congress Rejects Bid to Retire A-10s, F-15Es​

Lawmakers resolving differences in the House and Senate versions of the National Defense Authorization bill want to stop cuts to the Air Force’s combat fleet by blocking scores of planned divestments of aging A-10 and F-15E fighters.

The bill, unveiled Dec. 7, rejects the Air Force plan to retire all 162 A-10s still flying along with 21 F-15Es in 2026. If passed into law, the measure would limit divestments this fiscal year to just 59 A-10s and no F-15Es.

Also in the measure, Congress would redirect $250 million from future upgrades to the F-35 fighter and instead use it to supplement spare parts purchases.

The annual defense policy bill is considered must-pass legislation. The House passed its version in September and the Senate followed in October. Negotiations since produced the resulting 3,000-page bipartisan, bicameral conference bill, which is expected to move through both chambers in the coming weeks.

Known generally as the NDAA, the annual defense measure authorizes spending, sets policy, and directs actions, including reports, studies, research, and more. It is separate and distinct from the Defense Appropriations bill, which actually funds the department.

Lawmakers have used the NDAA to block Air Force divestment in the past, particularly for the A-10. Air Force officials acknowledge the Thunderbolt II was invaluable during the Global War on Terror but say it is poorly suited for high-end conflict in contested airspace. But lawmakers are pushing back, protecting bases with A-10 squadrons and arguing the Air Force is too eager to drop a still useful airframe.

Congress Moves to Block A-10, F-15E Divestments in NDAA

Congress moved to keep the Air Force’s combat fleet from getting even smaller by blocking retirements of the A-10 and F-15E in the NDAA.

www.airandspaceforces.com

 

[RangerRay]

The USAF has been trying to get rid of the A-10s for ages but Congress won’t let them.

Personally, I’m a fan of them…

 

[Czech_pivo]

Stay of execution...

In Defense Bill, Congress Rejects Bid to Retire A-10s, F-15Es​

Lawmakers resolving differences in the House and Senate versions of the National Defense Authorization bill want to stop cuts to the Air Force’s combat fleet by blocking scores of planned divestments of aging A-10 and F-15E fighters.

The bill, unveiled Dec. 7, rejects the Air Force plan to retire all 162 A-10s still flying along with 21 F-15Es in 2026. If passed into law, the measure would limit divestments this fiscal year to just 59 A-10s and no F-15Es.

Also in the measure, Congress would redirect $250 million from future upgrades to the F-35 fighter and instead use it to supplement spare parts purchases.

The annual defense policy bill is considered must-pass legislation. The House passed its version in September and the Senate followed in October. Negotiations since produced the resulting 3,000-page bipartisan, bicameral conference bill, which is expected to move through both chambers in the coming weeks.

Known generally as the NDAA, the annual defense measure authorizes spending, sets policy, and directs actions, including reports, studies, research, and more. It is separate and distinct from the Defense Appropriations bill, which actually funds the department.

Lawmakers have used the NDAA to block Air Force divestment in the past, particularly for the A-10. Air Force officials acknowledge the Thunderbolt II was invaluable during the Global War on Terror but say it is poorly suited for high-end conflict in contested airspace. But lawmakers are pushing back, protecting bases with A-10 squadrons and arguing the Air Force is too eager to drop a still useful airframe.

Congress Moves to Block A-10, F-15E Divestments in NDAA

Congress moved to keep the Air Force’s combat fleet from getting even smaller by blocking retirements of the A-10 and F-15E in the NDAA.

www.airandspaceforces.com

Interesting.
So the USAAF puts forward a proposal to retire some planes in order to save money and to allocate the savings into procuring more F35's.

Sounds similar to the proposal that I had suggested with the RCAF proposing the retirement of the Snowbirds and to re-allocate the money into increasing our number of fighter pilots being trained overseas and reassigning the snowbird aircrews to other RCAF squadrons that might be short of staff.

 

[Retired AF Guy]

Wasn't there something in the NDAA about keeping the E-7 Wedgetail AEW&C aircrafts?

 

[dapaterson]

Interesting.
So the USAAF puts forward a proposal to retire some planes in order to save money and to allocate the savings into procuring more F35's.

Sounds similar to the proposal that I had suggested with the RCAF proposing the retirement of the Snowbirds and to re-allocate the money into increasing our number of fighter pilots being trained overseas and reassigning the snowbird aircrews to other RCAF squadrons that might be short of staff.

There is minimal availability of fighter training overseas. Other nations have also reduced capacity.

 

[Czech_pivo]

There is minimal availability of fighter training overseas. Other nations have also reduced capacity.

I've read that we've placed fighter pilots with both the Italian and Finnish air forces recently, approximately 6 at a time.

 

[Czech_pivo]

There is minimal availability of fighter training overseas. Other nations have also reduced capacity.

RCAF embarks on Bridge FLIT as 419 Squadron begins hiatus

The Royal Canadian Air Force is reaffirming its presence at a major multinational jet pilot training school and placing its fighter lead-in training squadron on hiatus, as the RCAF prepares to transition its frontline fighter from the CF18 to the F35.

www.canada.ca