A group of lawmakers are preparing to flex the congressional muscles in a bid to save the A-10 Warthog.
The group, which includes Arizona Republican Senator John McCain, could tap an overseas war fund or even remove monies from the Secretary of Defense's office. According to Stars and Stripes, as Congress is prepping defense budget, there's a push urging other senators to support the A-10 movement.
Sen. McCain supports plundering the so-called Overseas Contingency Operations fund, telling Stars and Stripes, "We have found more money in this OCO increase in funding, which can be used for a variety of purposes. So, there is more money."
Sen. Kelly Ayotte, a Republican from New Hampshire whose husband flies the A-10, is backing a funding cut for the SecDef's office, calling it a "bloated" bureaucracy.
"We can't continue growing the bureaucracy and cutting the tip of the spear," Sen. Ayotte said.
The Air Force is eager to retire the A-10 and replace it with the shiny new F-35. According to supporters, though, the F-35 won't even be capable of its full close-air-support potential until early next decade.
With the defense budget being set this week, expect the battle over the A-10's future to reach a head sooner rather than later.
The group, which includes Arizona Republican Senator John McCain, could tap an overseas war fund or even remove monies from the Secretary of Defense's office. According to Stars and Stripes, as Congress is prepping defense budget, there's a push urging other senators to support the A-10 movement.
Sen. McCain supports plundering the so-called Overseas Contingency Operations fund, telling Stars and Stripes, "We have found more money in this OCO increase in funding, which can be used for a variety of purposes. So, there is more money."
Sen. Kelly Ayotte, a Republican from New Hampshire whose husband flies the A-10, is backing a funding cut for the SecDef's office, calling it a "bloated" bureaucracy.
"We can't continue growing the bureaucracy and cutting the tip of the spear," Sen. Ayotte said.
The Air Force is eager to retire the A-10 and replace it with the shiny new F-35. According to supporters, though, the F-35 won't even be capable of its full close-air-support potential until early next decade.
With the defense budget being set this week, expect the battle over the A-10's future to reach a head sooner rather than later.
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