City Government
Trump Budget Keeps A-10 Aloft
May 24, 2017 
News reports coming out of Washington seem to have given new life to the A-10 “Warthog” close air support attack jet, rendering needless all the efforts of Boise City and Idaho State officials to attract the F-35 to replace the A-10.
On a pedestal for many, an A-10 Thunderbolt II jet aircraft displayed at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Idaho Air National Guard spokesman Major Chris Borders told the GUARDIAN Wednesday, “We have seen the news reports, but so far there has been no official word received here.”
Back in Washington during a budget briefing Tuesday the Air Force confirmed that it plans to maintain the majority of its A-10 Warthogs in coming years despite past considerations of divesting the entire fleet.
The move could be a nice little windfall for the Idaho Dept. of Commerce. Gov. Butch Otter got a $100K appropriation from the legislature on behalf of Commerce to promote the F-35. If the money is not spent, it will go into the Department of Commerce coffers.
“If the A-10s remain it will be a blessing for the community,” said Dan Marler of the Citizens for a Livable Boise group which has opposed the F-35. He added, “it will also give the city and Air Guard time to prepare for the future of Gowen Field.
Military history site WORLD WAR WINGS.
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Comments & Discussion
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May 24, 2017, 4:31 pm
General Saylor confirmed at the NNU/KBOI breakfast about 10 days ago that the A-10 is getting a new aerodynamic wing.
The money is ALREADY approved.
All 175 current A-10’s will get the new wing and it should keep the A-10 flying for at least the next “10 years” – his words.
May 24, 2017, 4:35 pm
This is great news and great reporting.
May 24, 2017, 5:01 pm
What will it mean for the Gowen F-35 Crusade?
Will the City/Guard/State/Pols continue to push for F-35s, believing this could be reversed, or will they take themselves out of the running?
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/544/132/963/are-f35/
May 24, 2017, 5:55 pm
Like car manufacturers, the defense industry wants the old to die quickly so it can be replaced with new and expensive.
The A-10 is the result of common sense lessons learned in Vietnam and even back to WWII. The Air force has always hated the A-10 and still does because it is not packed full of expensive geewhiz stuff and is doggish.
175 is not very many left. The generals like to blow lots of money on new toys so they can get a consulting gig with a defense contractor after retirement. Hope they’ve not destroyed the other 541 A-10s. The Brass will order the airplane destroyed at the first opportunity (this might be why so few remain). Perhaps it should be given to the Army along with its crews and support structure.
May 24, 2017, 6:15 pm
Gov Otter can give Megan and Jayson Ronk a $100,000 bonus!
May 24, 2017, 8:27 pm
Think how sad this will make the Statesman – if the City, Guard et al. do quietly fade away from the F-35 campaign. ALL those tens of thousands of dollars of #GowenWrong ads they had been counting on — Gurgling down the drain … Their rapid endorsement of the F-35s (Bring ‘Em On) showed the world they and their Editorial Board would sell out the people of Boise in a heartbeat.
May 25, 2017, 7:11 am
I couldn’t be happier with this news. I’ve been a huge fan of the Warthog since it’s beginning. I hope it goes back into manufacturer.
May 25, 2017, 8:18 am
I am sure Boise will still try for the F35. Gownen can accommodate both one squadron of A10s and one squadron of F35s. And the military pork that comes with the F35 is what is what is so appealing to our politicians. There seems to be an inexhaustible supply of it!
May 25, 2017, 8:21 am
The 2012 Air Force Boise EIS scenario #1 evaluated a squadron of F35s in addition to the current squadron of A10s. All the decision to keep A10s does is to strip away one of the proponents justifications for pursuing the F35s in order to keep a IANG mission. The real draw of the F35 is the defense pork that goes with this program. They will still pursue it!
May 25, 2017, 8:28 am
Trump’s budget proposal has little if anything to do with what Congress will finally approve. Who knows what they will do. My bet is that the final budget will have a lot of can kicking in it.
May 25, 2017, 2:50 pm
“Ten years”
Hopefully, we will have a different political scene before then, so this 10 year ‘reprieve’ is irrelevant.
Pretty naive for anyone to think the F-35 is not coming to a town near you- at some point.
May 25, 2017, 7:07 pm
Thanks for the work you do Dave.
May 25, 2017, 8:39 pm
I believe we will eventually discover the military/government spy apparatus has been used to gather intelligence on those citizens opposed to F-35 in Boise. An enemies list is obviously being maintained by the Airport. Start digging and thou shall find. A dissatisfied staffer with good sense of justice is likely the best bet.
The only way to fix this mess now is all new people in City Hall. A clean sweep like what happened when Brent Coles got forced out by the police union.
May 25, 2017, 10:46 pm
Because it is all fake news. And to Constitutional, define eventually.
May 25, 2017, 10:48 pm
The following is a snippet of what one US Military spokesman said about the F-35. I can recall reading similar hogwash in the brochure of the worst car GM ever built. These guys are really slathering on the KY.
“The F-35 program is more than a program; it is truly a global enterprise built upon a broad spectrum of stakeholders joined together by a common goal — to support the warfighter,” Winter said, according to a news release. “Our warfighters, stakeholders and JPO teammates have my commitment to provide timely continuous communications, make prudent transparent decisions, and deliver on our commitments through crisp, accountable execution,” he continued. “These core tenets of my commander’s intent will focus our thinking as we transition to the follow on development phase, ramp up to full rate production and expand global sustainment operations for the growing F-35 fleets and forces.”
May 26, 2017, 12:12 pm
Nice for our peace of mind and relatively quiet city, bad for the victims of the marauding and conquering American Empire.