Moulton moves to gut A-10

BREAKINGMcSally shines, A-10 saved

Massachusetts Rep. Seth Moulton has made a move to gut an amendment by Arizona Rep. Martha McSally to save the USAF inventory of A-10s. In a letter explaining his action, Moulton pushes for TOW missiles and maintainers for Lockheed Martin’s F-35.

Moulton wrote, “Today, I plan to offer a substitute amendment to the anticipated amendment from Rep. Martha McSally that would prevent the Air Force from making even partial reductions to the A-10 inventory.” Mouton called his attack a “common sense approach” which includes authorizing the retirement of 164 out of 283 total aircraft.

Moulten then suggested that the money saved be used to “purchase DoD-identified unfunded priorities that protect ground troops [counter-IED technology, TOW missiles, F-16 upgrades, more C-130Js (can be converted to AC-130s), MQ-9 Reapers, KC-135 defense systems, etc.]…. equipping our ground troops while freeing up resources the Air Force needs to keep maintainers in higher priority fighter aircraft units,” meaning the F-35.

In 2014, Stanley Allen McChrystal endorsed Seth Moulton, in his challenge against Representative John F. Tierney in the Democratic primary. McChrystal claimed that he had endorsed him because the United States Congress would benefit from a man of his character.

McChrystal is Chairman of the Board of Siemens Government Systems. The Lockheed Martin-led F-35 “team” employs a lifecycle management product supplied by Siemens.

The TOW missile is made by Raytheon. Raytheon’s corporate headquarters are coincidently in Waltham, MA. Raytheon has worked across the country and on multiple levels to promote the TOW as a replacement for the A-10 in providing Close Air Support.

In his letter, Moulton claims that he tries “not to talk often about my experiences in Iraq.” However contrary to his claims, he uses his experience as a former Marine Corps infantry platoon leader, to sell the mothballing of the A-10. “I know firsthand the need to make tough choices to protect our troops in combat. In war, I rarely had everything I wanted, but I always made the best of my resources to achieve the greatest military effectiveness possible.”

The Marines have a keen interest in the F-35 resource. They have put all of their eggs in the F-35 basket. In the article, 7 Things The Marines Have To Do To Make The F-35B Worth The Huge Cost, on Foxtrot Alpha, Tyler Rogoway notes, “in the end the Marines will get the finest replacement for their AV-8Bs Harriers that they could have ever wished for, while the USAF, Navy and partner nations (over 90% of the F-35′s entire production run) will get an aircraft that has paid dearly for granting the Marines their golden short takeoff and vertical landing fifth generation fighter wish.”

With Raytheon making the TOW in McSally’s congressional district it will be interesting to see if she can muster the troops, and the courage to take on one of the largest employers in her area to save the A-10.

A JTAC (Joint Terminal Attack Controller) weighed-in on Moulton and his letter for the ADI, “He was a lower ranking officer in the Marine Corps (albeit historically a very politically minded one). There is a reason why the Marine Corps provides an Air Officer to serve as a liaison to advise and assist their ground Commanders in CAS, as does the USAF TACP to the US Army. These ground Commanders do not and cannot be experts on aircraft, their capabilities, sensors or munitions. Nor can a young Marine Corps Infantry O-3 with only 6 years in the military even if he gets elected to Congress.”

According to the JTAC, everyone in the Army he has talked to does not want to lose the A-10. “Even behind the door meetings with high ranking USAF officers they admit they don’t want to lose the A-10 until a real suitable substitute is ready, but they need the money for the F-35.”

The JTAC pointed out that Moulton’s suggestion to take money saved from removing 163 A-10’s and spend it on “badly needed counter-IED radio jamming technology” is specious. “There was more attention paid to IEDs along with tons of money threw at it than anything,” according to the JTAC. “We have bought so many armored vehicles to counter this that we have excess to give to local police and Sheriffs. DOD has procured the following plethora of radio jammers to counter IEDs: Duke V3 (vehicle mounted), CVRJ (vehicle mounted), STAR V 740 (vehicle mounted), UWB-HPEM (vehicle mounted), THOR III (dismounted troops).”

“He says the “B-1 and F-16 can provide the same end effects of CAS”. Sitting on a mountain top and looking at a target two miles away and you will not hear me whine about getting either one of those aircraft. When the enemy is within small arms range and bullets are hitting around you and over your head and you cannot take your time and provide accurate coordinates,” continued the JTAC. “Hell no, I want an A-10 because it can fly slow enough and loiter long enough to grasp situational awareness of the battle field. I have had A-10s strafe within 100 to 200 meters of my position. I don’t want anyone dropping a bomb that close! I promise you that no one who has been in that situation wants anyone else to be in that situation without and A-10 or a new attack aircraft with the same characteristics.”

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