WT Forums

Found this on aim points today.

http://aimpoints.hq.af.mil/display.cfm?id=20181

US Air Force ( USAF) Chief of Staff General Michael Moseley has told Jane’s he is considering the creation of a new counterinsurgency (COIN) squadron of A-10A Thunderbolt II aircraft for the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC).

Gen Moseley said he is mulling the possibility of putting a squadron of A-10A close-support aircraft inside AFSOC to serve the Special Operations Command, which has the lead engagement role in the US-declared global war on terrorism.

“There’s a variety of … counterinsurgency aircraft and other things out there that we’ve been looking at that would facilitate AFSOC’s partnership with the Special Operations Command,” Gen Moseley told Jane’s on 12 July.

“I’ve even asked: is it reasonable to put a squadron or so of A-10s into Special Operations Command?”

The A-10 is widely used to provide close air support to coalition and friendly forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, it can be used against all ground targets including armoured platforms.

Gen Moseley’s interest in a new A-10 COIN squadron follows recent reports of a new AFSOC proposal for an “irregular warfare” wing. Possible aircraft being floated to fill a strike role in the wing have ranged from a modified air-to-ground Beechcraft AT-6B to an Embraer Tucano or Super Tucano.

However, Gen Moseley cautioned that he is not yet fully committed to the idea of a COIN air unit but is considering it because he believes the USAF needs to be able to meet the “full spectrum” of threats — from COIN to state-on-state conflict.

“I don’t know if I’m wedded to [the COIN unit] so much as I would like to know the pluses and minuses,” said Gen Moseley.

The A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft — known informally as the Warthog — may offer some key advantages if Gen Moseley decides to establish the COIN squadron. The A-10 was specifically designed to be highly survivable in close air support missions. It is highly maneuvrable at low air speeds and altitudes, boasts a long loiter time and also a titanium cockpit and redundant flight controls.

If established, the A-10 COIN squadron would be the first dedicated strike aircraft unit for COIN since the Douglas A-1 Skyraider: a propeller-driven ground-support aircraft used in the Vietnam War. The aircraft made a name for itself carrying large bomb loads, absorbing heavy fire and demonstrating prolonged endurance — traits similar to those possessed by the A-10.

“We fought all the way through Southeast Asia with A-1s living in the special operations world,” noted Gen Moseley.

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A-10...the other side of the A-1 COIN.

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\"Those who hammer their guns into plows
will plow for those who do not.\"
- Thomas Jefferson

Ok here we go again. I have heard this since the early 90's Paint them Black and station them at Hurbert Field.

Just as long as it's not the RAM paint that doesn't work when it gets wet

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Just give me some ammo, a little water.....and some chips if you got 'em

JB, you already have a large contingency of AFSOC here at moody... my where did I here that about painting them black, oh it was one of our sq. cc's that told us that years ago.

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Faugh ah Ballaugh ~ Clear the Way

Yeah but maybe there has been a lot of hand in hand work in the past with the spec-ops guys and a really really cool (well they used to be cool) Hawg outfit. I wish I could expound......................but I still give it a BOOYA !

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YGBSM !

It's already hotter than hell taking joaps in the desert on top of a grey jet.
I can't imagine how bad it was when they were green.
If they were black... fugedaboudit.

But they would look soooooooo badass - Hogs painted black AND with teeth??!?! I'd get a boner looking at that.

Think nogs and FFARP.

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YGBSM !

Black might look good, but during daylight you might as well go back to the
EURO-1 cammo , the reason why is even on a runway the paint job is hard to see, asphalt or concrete , from the air it would look black, looking down on it over just about any terrain it would be hard too see , even the desert after a few tests during GW1 thats why the \"Peanut\" paint Job wasn't put into theater , didn't need it.
The AE-1's were all painted \"Jungle Camo\" with a white belly.

Could take a lesson from the \"JASDF\" on this one, none of their jets are painted the same the go from Light to dark as you look at them on the ramp.
Using Grey, Greens, Blues ETC.... so unless your going to go with a
\"Super Secert Custom Black paint job that needs SPECIAL care etc... which would be \"USELESS\" in the \"Hog arena \" might as well leave them the 2 tone color.

But with Moody being so close to their base in Florida , if they need Hog's they could be put under a new \"Rapid Deployment Force\" , the F-4E's at Moody in the 80'S were part of that, just bring it back.



Goose

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\"Live Free Or Die\"

30MM Jr has ahad a couple of TDY's down there providing tanker service to rotors and Hogs in the same mission. Coincidence?

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\"Those who hammer their guns into plows
will plow for those who do not.\"
- Thomas Jefferson

I think after some of the \"TDY's\" we did in the 80's and now over the years, I think any A-10 unit or Squadron could do the \"SOP\" work without being under a COIN squadron.
I don't think anymore , well I don't know how they train now but I wouldn't have problem with any of the \"Hog Drivers\" pulling off a \"SOP\" mission.

It doesn't matter what the unit is \"Called\" or its paint job an A-10 is an A-10,
Pilots would still fly them as they do now and Crewdawg's would still fix'em like they do now.

Now if \"SOP's\" wanted a \"Specific\" aircraft for close air support and not the A-10 with some of their choices I see they Might look at, just pull some
\"Sandy's\" (AE-1's) out of the bone yard and put them back into service.

You would need the \"TOT\" more than anything plus a \"Kick Ass\" weapons load .
A-10 or AE-1 would be my only 2 choices

Goose

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\"Live Free Or Die\"

Good choices, but the Bronco wouldn't be too terrible a third. Limiting factor would be load, but you could have an \"ant-line\" leading all the home so that you could have ordinance airborne and in close proximity all day long

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Just give me some ammo, a little water.....and some chips if you got 'em

Good point Growler , the OV-10 is a good aircraft for the mission too.

I was thinking the \"Old Cessna A-37's\" but I guess they could always
\"Pack on or 2 just in case they need some extra \"Punch\".
3 or 4 guys could carry one of those \"Toys\"

Dice, if you ever hear from \"Rocky\" ask him what he thinks of \"A-37\" PILOTS at NTC???? That Poor 2nd Lt never had a Chance

poor Kid, picked the wrong fight, with the Wrong CrewChief, about the
Wrong Subject,and found out the \"Hard way\"

It was One Sided

Goose

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\"Live Free Or Die\"

Do tell Goose......Do TTell!

Lets just say \"A certain RES 2nd Lt \" called Rocky a liar when he told him he served in Viet nam and he was Active Duty.

We just stood back, Vanguard 1 was on his first TDY just taking over the TFS and had to rush over and get between them 2 before \"Someone Cold Cocked a 2Lt\"
That was a pretty good night


Because you guys who know \"Rocky\" know he served in Nam and Proud to have done so.

He didn't take too kindly to being called a \"Liar\" if you know what I mean.

Goose

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\"Live Free Or Die\"

I think you guys are missing half the equation; actually I know you are. Believe it or not, 50% of getting a COIN squadron is how the maintaners OPERATE and not just the aircrews. The ground crews are the limfac, ESPECIALLY in the A-10 community.

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YGBSM !