Congressman Kingston Fights to Protect Troops

Press Release

Congressman Kingston (R-GA) today offered an amendment to maintain the A-10 "Warthog" program in the Defense Appropriations mark-up of the bill funding the military for FY2015 and issued the following statement:

"The A-10 should be preserved for two reasons - cost-savings and the safety of our troops on the ground. It is less expensive per flight hour than comparable aircraft and has saved countless lives in Afghanistan and Iraq and should be fully-funded as called for in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)."
The A-10 was fully authorized in the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act passed by the House on May 22, 2014.

The A-10 is the only fixed wing Air Force aircraft solely designed for close air support missions in direct support of our ground forces. Its primary mission is to engage threats to these forces from tanks, armored vehicles and opposition ground soldiers.

According to the Air Force, the operational cost per flying hour--which takes into account sustainment costs--for the A-10 ($17,398) is 24%, 54%, and 68% less than F-16 ($22,954), F-15E ($37,504), and the B-1 ($54,218), respectively.

In the first half of 2013 the A-10 flew 11,189 combat sorties in Afghanistan. Between 2009-2012 the average number of combat sorties flown per year was between 27,800 to 34,500.

On July 24, 2013, a pair of A-10s protected an ambushed convoy, supporting the evacuation efforts of wounded soldiers under hostile fire. The attackers moved closer to the soldiers, which prevented helicopter evacuation, leading to the convoy commander authorizing the A-10s to provide dangerously close fire. The aircraft conducted strafing runs, flying 75 ft above the enemy's position completing 15 gun passes firing nearly 2,300 rounds and dropping three 500 lb bombs

The performance of the A-10 that day saved the lives of 60 Americans. This engagement is typical of close-air support missions the A-10 was designed for.

Congressman Kingston will continue the fight for funding of the A-10 in FY2015 appropriations.

Congressman Kingston has represented five of Georgia's seven military bases and is a senior member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.

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