Combat aircraft

TSgt Sean Deam, a USAF joint terminal

attack controller, says in the  lm. ‘It’s the

A-10, honestly.’

New wings are shoring up the A-10’s

structural integrity, helping keep the snub-

nosed attacker  ying through the next

decade. But the USAF may not keep as

many squadrons  ying as Congress would

ultimately like, as o cial watchdogs

such as the Project on Government

Oversight have found. The USAF intends

to cut three active-duty A-10 squadrons

from the present nine. It’s a move that

could have serious implications for the

‘Warthog’ community when it comes to

future demands.

Fewer aircraft and regular deployments

place higher demands on both personnel

and airframes, pushing the stress placed

Right: A-10 pilot

Capt Eric Calvey

said the ‘kill

chain’ started

with intelligence

assets to

establish hostile

targets, with

the utmost care

taken before the

A-10s employed

weapons on

these targets.

USAF/TSgt

Anthony Nelson

1515

14-16 The Briefing C.indd 15 19/01/2018 11: