The Pentagon has deferred the retirement of the A-10 attack jet till 2022, Secretary of Defense Ash Carter announced on Feb. 2 during the preview of the fiscal 2017 defense budget.
By: Airman 1st Class Benjamin Wiseman, U.S. Air Force (www.defense.gov) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
The news was welcomed by U.S. Senator John McCain, saying: “Secretary Carter’s announcement today is a credit to the brave airmen from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and military installations across the country who are providing unmatched close-air support in critical missions throughout the world.”
“I look forward to seeing our A-10 pilots continue to make important advances in the fight against ISIL in the Middle East, boosting NATO’s efforts to deter Russian aggression in Eastern Europe, and supporting vital missions for U.S. national security wherever they are needed.”