The Briefing Room

General Category => Military/Defense News => Topic started by: rangerrebew on November 27, 2020, 12:49:25 pm

Title: Air Force awards big contract for A-10 work near Hill Air Force Base
Post by: rangerrebew on November 27, 2020, 12:49:25 pm
 Air Force awards big contract for A-10 work near Hill Air Force Base

    By MITCH SHAW, Standard-Examiner Nov 24, 2020
 
HILL AIR FORCE BASE — Despite multiple calls over the years to send the plane to the boneyard, the old A-10 Warthog is still a vital part of the nation's defense infrastructure.

And it appears that Northrop Grumman and Hill Air Force Base — the longtime maintenance hub for the close air support aircraft — will be keeping it flying for years to come.

Late Monday, the Air Force announced that Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. was awarded a $185.7 million contract to provide "engineering services" on the military's fleet of A-10 aircraft. According to a press release from the Department of Defense, the work will be performed in Clearfield in collaboration with Hill and is expected to run through Nov. 22, 2030.

https://www.standard.net/news/military/air-force-awards-big-contract-for-a-10-work-near-hill-air-force-base/article_0bcaaee6-c1ef-5f22-9c6f-9591111a90b3.html (https://www.standard.net/news/military/air-force-awards-big-contract-for-a-10-work-near-hill-air-force-base/article_0bcaaee6-c1ef-5f22-9c6f-9591111a90b3.html)
Title: Re: Air Force awards big contract for A-10 work near Hill Air Force Base
Post by: rangerrebew on November 27, 2020, 12:51:20 pm
Not too many years ago, the AF couldn't wait to get rid of them.  Now they are spending all kinds of money on them to upgrade.  It just goes to show old does not necessarily mean useless. :pondering:
Title: Re: Air Force awards big contract for A-10 work near Hill Air Force Base
Post by: PeteS in CA on November 27, 2020, 04:43:14 pm
Not too many years ago, the AF couldn't wait to get rid of them.  Now they are spending all kinds of money on them to upgrade.  It just goes to show old does not necessarily mean useless. :pondering:

The USAF has been wanting to get rid of the A-10 since at least the late 1970s, when it was still in production.

This contract seems to be for general maintenance rather than specifically the re-winging or the A to C upgrade. Or maybe it's "E. All of the above."

The A-10 may not be a good fit for the highest-threat operating environments, but why tie up the aircraft that are by those aircraft having to handle all threat environments?