Another Decade, Another Underfunded CAS Asset

An 8-page internal briefing paints a bleak picture for the current A-10 Thunderbolt fleet, saying that the aircraft "lives in the shadow of 2015 divestiture decisions", and fixes to get the plane back on track "will take a decade or more to reverse." 

Pamela Lee, A-10 systems manager at Hill AFB in Salt Lake City, Utah, briefed a group on the issue in March, before her presentation was publicized by the Project on Government Oversight (POGO). The slides paint a very similar picture to the usual pastiche of A-10 operation for more than 15 years, illustrating an aircraft that is wildly popular outside Air Force leadership, but a begrudging line item they can't wait to get rid of. Congress has had to step in at least 5 times since 2014, POGO notes, adding specific provisions to the NDAA to prohibit the force from retiring aircraft or drawing back funding. They note that a series of relatively low-cost National Guard programs have proven that the old dog can be taught new tricks, with Guard Thunderbolt programs bringing out a helmet mounted targeting system, improved GPS, and 3D audio systems.

Lee's briefing, which she has insisted is for internal use only, shows the A-10 program being starved of necessary support and funding, despite previous congressional mandates. One cannot legislate enthusiasm, and despite the provisions aimed at ensuring continued A-10 service, it seems the Air Force has had little trouble hampering the program regardless. POGO points out a lack of sorely needed upgrades, like revised computing, communication, and avionics equipment that unnecessarily lengthens the A-10 kill chain. Another project, critical to continued service, is a new wing for the aircraft, as well as the reassignment of maintenance resources that created a massive backlog of repair work. POGO describes the issue as "Demolition by Neglect", pointing out that despite the dislike leadership seems to have for the A-10, they have deployed the fleet overseas numerous times in recent history. 

POGO says that the lack of maintenance and upgrades has "served to accelerate the fleet's deterioration, helping Air Force leaders make their case that the A-10 should be retired because of its poor condition. In an Ironic twist, USAF leaders actually made the case for continued relevance by showing how effectively it operated in Syria," as well as recent deployments to Europe as a show of force, both for their legendary stature as a premier CAS asset and their ability to operate from unimproved runways. 

The A-10 re-winging program, a vital one one for the 40+ year old aircraft, has been the subject of cancellations and postponements. POGO recalls that by now, the entire fleet of 281 aircraft should have received their new wings, with a $2 billion contract for 242 of them given to Boeing in 2007. A few decisions by USAF brass saw the contract lapse in 2016 after 171 wing sets had been delivered, with a second contract begun in 2019 for remaining aircraft. Lee's briefing shows that, between both contracts, only 173 wing sets have been delivered so far.

The overall picture painted of the A-10 is not a heartening one. Less than half the fleet is believed to be deployment-ready, with rumors that USAF prep instructions have been given to units to select only those aircraft with enough lifetime flight hours left on their airframe for a 6-month deployment. Assuming a 1,200 hour time between major overhaul, 145 A-10s are non-deployable. 

The report, and the briefing, are available at the  Project on Government Oversight's website, with a bevy of extra details that grant a deeper look into the goings-on of the beloved aircraft program.

FMI: www.pogo.org