U-2s and A-10s to be cut! US budget request for 2015 makes stark reading

摘要

AS HAD BEEN widely expected, the latest US Air Force budget requests have recommended the complete retirement of the A-10 Thunderbolt H attack and U-2S reconnaissance aircraft. Senior officials claim that retiring the A-10 fleet will save $3.5 billion over five years and accelerates the long-standing modernization plan. The service says it will also mothball nearly 30 airlift aircraft and that 24 strategic airlifters will be re-assigned to the back-up inventory. More than 100 MQ-1 Predators will be retired, while Air Combat Command (ACC)'s MC-12W fleet will be transferred to Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) and the US Army. More than 50 F-15Cs will be divested, but the remaining 179 aircraft will receive the full suite of offensive and defensive system improvements including advanced electronically scanned array (AESA) radars.