The Pentagon Finally Wants A New A-10 Warthog – But One Obstacle Stands In The Way

Hog Tied.

The A-10 Warthog has survived the battlefield more times than anyone can count, but that didn’t stop the Government from trying to shut it down. In the end, the Warthog proved its worth the prime ground support aircraft and is enduring until 2022. Now that they have seen the light, the Government wants to build a new A-10 Warthog successor, but there’s a catch.

The United States Air Force does want a new close air support (CAS) with a lower price tag than expensive fifth-generation fighters. Once again it boils down to politics, but this time it has to do with defense contractors. Contractors are currently engaged in a competition known as OA-X contract, to develop a light fighter.

“Reportedly, the guiding principle of picking an OA-X will be cost, both cost to acquire (the Air Force would really like to buy an off-the-shelf, already-existing warbird rather than develop something all new) and cost to operate.”

– Rich Smith (The Motley Fool)

They want a total of 300 light fighters to reduce costs, however, contractors are engaged in the war amongst each other preventing any progress being made. The fact that contractors are interested is a pretty good problem to have at this point. The big obstacle is that they haven’t narrowed down who will make it.