Defense chief: A-10s needed to bomb ISIS

Brad Lendon
By Brad Lendon, CNN
Updated 7:27 AM EST, Sat February 27, 2016
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Story highlights

A-10s won't be retired until 2022, Ash Carter says

Attack jets needed in campaign against ISIS in Iraq and Syria, Carter says

(CNN) —  

Defense Secretary Ash Carter has made it official: ISIS has saved one of its deadliest enemies, the U.S. Air Force’s A-10 Thunderbolt.

The inelegant but well-armed and well-armored ground-attack jet, nicknamed the “Warthog,” was facing quick retirement after the Air Force said it needed the money and crews being used to keep the A-10s flying for the brand-new F-35s and other missions.

Then came Operation Inherent Resolve, the U.S.-led coalition’s campaign against the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq.

“I saw some of the A-10s that are flying bombing missions against ISIL (the Pentagon’s term for ISIS) when I was at Incirlik Air Base in Turkey last December, and we need the additional payload capacity they can bring to the fight,” Carter said in testimony on the Pentagon’s Fiscal Year 2017 budget before a House Appropriations subcommittee on Thursday.

Airman 1st Class Luke Kitterman/USAF

“We’re pushing off the A-10’s final retirement until 2022 so we can keep more aircraft that can drop smart bombs on ISIL,” Carter told the committee.

The defense chief said plans are to keep the A-10 in the Air Force inventory until 2022.

“As 2022 approaches, A-10s will be replaced by F-35s only on a squadron-by-squadron basis as they come online, ensuring that all units have sufficient backfill and that we retain enough aircraft needed to fight today’s conflicts,” Carter said.

The plan to keep the A-10s flying was in the Pentagon’s budget that was released earlier this month. What was new Thursday was the Obama administration’s top defense official linking that plan to ISIS.

The Pentagon has requested $582.7 billion for the upcoming fiscal year. A healthy chunk of that money would go to acquiring new hardware, including F-35 fighter jets. The Pentagon is requesting $10.1 billion for F-35s in three variants: 43 F-35As for the Air Force, 16 F-35Bs for the Marine Corps and four F-35Cs for the Navy.
Photos: Big-ticket buys in the Pentagon's budget request
PHOTO: Alex R. Lloyd/USAF
The Pentagon has requested $582.7 billion for the upcoming fiscal year. A healthy chunk of that money would go to acquiring new hardware, including F-35 fighter jets. The Pentagon is requesting $10.1 billion for F-35s in three variants: 43 F-35As for the Air Force, 16 F-35Bs for the Marine Corps and four F-35Cs for the Navy.
The budget request also includes two F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets.
Photos: Big-ticket buys in the Pentagon's budget request
PHOTO: Lindsay A. Preston/U.S. Navy/File
F/A-18 Hornet —
The budget request also includes two F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets.
The Pentagon wants $759 million for two MQ-4C Tritons. It says the drones will "maximize capabilities and extend the reach of our airborne systems."
Photos: Big-ticket buys in the Pentagon's budget request
PHOTO: Chad Slattery/Northrup Grumman/U.S. Navy
MQ-4C Triton —
The Pentagon wants $759 million for two MQ-4C Tritons. It says the drones will "maximize capabilities and extend the reach of our airborne systems."
The request includes $2.2 billion to buy P-8A Poseidons -- modified Boeing 737s designed to be submarine hunters.
Photos: Big-ticket buys in the Pentagon's budget request
PHOTO: U.S. Navy/Spec. 1st Class Anthony Petry
P-8A Poseidon —
The request includes $2.2 billion to buy P-8A Poseidons -- modified Boeing 737s designed to be submarine hunters.
The Pentagon wants $3.2 billion to buy two DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers.
Photos: Big-ticket buys in the Pentagon's budget request
PHOTO: MC1 Sean Spratt/U.S. Navy
Arleigh Burke-class destroyer —
The Pentagon wants $3.2 billion to buy two DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers.
One America-class amphibious assault ship is included in the Navy's 2017 budget. Amphibious assault ships can deploy aircraft, including the new F-35 fighter jets.
Photos: Big-ticket buys in the Pentagon's budget request
PHOTO: MC1 Brian P. Biller/U.S. Navy
America-class amphibious assault ship —
One America-class amphibious assault ship is included in the Navy's 2017 budget. Amphibious assault ships can deploy aircraft, including the new F-35 fighter jets.
The request includes $5.2 billion to buy two Virginia-class attack submarines. Here, a dolphin swims in front of the USS John Warner during its sea trials in May.
Photos: Big-ticket buys in the Pentagon's budget request
PHOTO: U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Huntington Ingalls Industries by ChrisOxley/Released
Virginia-class attack submarine —
The request includes $5.2 billion to buy two Virginia-class attack submarines. Here, a dolphin swims in front of the USS John Warner during its sea trials in May.
The budget request includes money for two littoral combat ships like the USS Little Rock, shown here after it was christened in 2015. The 2017 budget stipulates that the Navy will reduce its planned littoral combat ship/fast frigate procurement from 52 ships to 40.
Photos: Big-ticket buys in the Pentagon's budget request
PHOTO: From Lockheed Martin
Littoral combat ship —
The budget request includes money for two littoral combat ships like the USS Little Rock, shown here after it was christened in 2015. The 2017 budget stipulates that the Navy will reduce its planned littoral combat ship/fast frigate procurement from 52 ships to 40.
The Pentagon wants $3.1 billion to buy 15 KC-46A Pegasus refueling tankers. The refueling boom on the Pegasus can pump 1,200 gallons of fuel per minute into another aircraft.
Photos: Big-ticket buys in the Pentagon's budget request
PHOTO: John D. Parker/Boeing
KC-46A Pegasus —
The Pentagon wants $3.1 billion to buy 15 KC-46A Pegasus refueling tankers. The refueling boom on the Pegasus can pump 1,200 gallons of fuel per minute into another aircraft.
Eleven C-130J aircraft, of various configurations, are included in the Air Force's 2017 budget request.
Photos: Big-ticket buys in the Pentagon's budget request
PHOTO: U.S. Air Force/Chrissy Cuttita
C-130J —
Eleven C-130J aircraft, of various configurations, are included in the Air Force's 2017 budget request.