Congressional supporters of the A-10 are still fighting to save it, even if many already think they've won on Capitol Hill.
In a press conference Thursday, lawmakers called Air Force plans to retire the close-air support aircraft shortsighted, dangerous and disheartening, given growing terrorist threats around the world.
As they have multiple times in recent months, they predicted more U.S. troop casualties in Afghanistan and in future wars if the retirement plan comes to pass.
Expected incoming Senate Armed Services Chairman Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said the aircraft has already saved countless lives overseas, and suggested five U.S. "friendly fire" deaths in a June battle in Afghanistan might have been averted if A-10s were used instead of U.S. bombers.
"We all know this is the best platform (for close-air support)," McCain said. "There's no doubt about that. We're talking about the lives of men and women serving in harm's way."
Air Force officials blamed that Afghanistan tragedy on poor communication, not improper aircraft use. They've also insisted that the 1970s-era aircraft and similar single-mission platforms aren't the future of the force, and maintaining them costs funding and personnel better directed toward newer weapons systems.
Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., one of the strongest advocates of keeping the aircraft in service, called the Air Force's old-versus-new argument a false choice, and said U.S. forces shouldn't face extra battlefield risk because of poor military fiscal management.
In June, the House voted to override the Air Force's plans to retire the fleet. The Senate Armed Services Committee approved similar alternative plans just a few days later, and supporters believe they have broad support in the full Senate to block retirement plans.
But Thursday's press conference and renewed call to save the A-10 comes amid a new offer from the Air Force to only partially retire the fleet, in an effort to quell some outside opposition. But even that smaller number — around 70 aircraft — is unacceptable and contrary to what lawmakers want, Ayotte said.
"I'll give them this: They're persistent," she said. "Even though the House has spoken clearly, even though the Senate is speaking clearly, the Air Force continues to make this false choice."
Ayotte has held multiple Capitol Hill press conferences on the issue in 2014, even without any signs that support for the retirement plan is growing among her colleagues. Members of the Tactical Air Control Party Association offered emotional, sometimes tearful support for the A-10 at Thursday's event, mirroring battlefield and pilot anecdotes from past press briefings.
The biggest obstacle to stopping the aircraft's retirement appears to be whether Congress can pass a defense authorization bill this year. The House has passed its version of the annual budget and policy measure, but it has been stalled in the Senate since mid-summer.
Leo covers Congress, Veterans Affairs and the White House for Military Times. He has covered Washington, D.C. since 2004, focusing on military personnel and veterans policies. His work has earned numerous honors, including a 2009 Polk award, a 2010 National Headliner Award, the IAVA Leadership in Journalism award and the VFW News Media award.
