[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 149 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 149

  Expressing the sense of the Senate that Congress should continue to 
support the A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft program, also known as 
                    the Warthog and A-10C or OA-10C.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 13, 2021

   Mr. Kelly (for himself, Mr. Blunt, and Ms. Sinema) submitted the 
  following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed 
                                Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Expressing the sense of the Senate that Congress should continue to 
support the A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft program, also known as 
                    the Warthog and A-10C or OA-10C.

Whereas the A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft (referred to in this preamble as 
        the ``A-10'')--

    (1) has seen action in every major United States Military conflict 
since the first production A-10 was delivered to Davis-Monthan Air Force 
Base in October 1975; and

    (2) since that time, has received several upgrades that are reflected 
in the 281 A-10s in service as of the date of adoption of this resolution;

Whereas, since Operation Desert Storm in 1991, the A-10 has become a preferred 
        close air support platform for ground troops, striking fear in the 
        enemies of the United States and inspiring pride in the members of the 
        Armed Forces;
Whereas the A-10, which has been the backbone of the close air support mission 
        of the Air Force for more than 40 years, has proven to be a highly 
        accurate, mobile, and durable weapons-delivery platform that can be used 
        against all ground targets;
Whereas the A-10 supports close air support with a variety of forward-firing, 
        free-fall, and precision-guided munitions;
Whereas the A-10 is able to perform combat search and rescue, air interdiction, 
        armed reconnaissance, suppression of enemy air defenses, special 
        operations forces support, and countersea operations in low-threat and 
        high-threat environments, day or night;
Whereas the A-10 provides the Air Force with an extensive ability to survey the 
        battlefield and then fix, engage, target, and destroy a wide range of 
        mobile and fixed targets as an arsenal aircraft, including tanks and 
        other highly armored vehicles in quantity;
Whereas the A-10 was specifically designed with protection from small-arms fire, 
        including self-sealing fuel tanks, redundant flight controls, and a 
        titanium cockpit tub, which has proven vital to the safe return of 
        pilots despite heavy damage from enemy ground fire;
Whereas the A-10 has the lowest rate of friendly fire incidents of any combat 
        fighter or bomber;
Whereas the A-10 has one of the largest carrying capacities for a fighter-type 
        aircraft and can carry a wide range of munitions and electronic 
        countermeasures without sacrificing air-to-ground capabilities;
Whereas the close air support provided by the A-10, which has proven invaluable 
        on the battlefield, is better than the close air support provided by any 
        other fighter aircraft because--

    (1) the A-10 has excellent maneuverability at low air speeds and 
altitudes; and

    (2) the close air support provided by the A-10 is simple and effective;

Whereas the slower airspeeds of the A-10 enable longer loiter times, increasing 
        support to troops in contact and battlefield coverage;
Whereas, of all combat planes in the arsenal of the United States, the A-10 is 
        the least expensive to operate and purchase;
Whereas, while the A-10 flew only 30 percent of the total sorties of the Air 
        Force during Operation Desert Storm in 1991, these aircraft achieved 
        more than half of the confirmed Iraqi equipment losses and fired 90 
        percent of the precision-guided Maverick missiles;
Whereas, during Operation Allied Force in 1999--

    (1) A-10s destroyed more field-deployed Serbian weaponry than any other 
allied weapon system; and

    (2) combat search and rescue support from the A-10 was 100 percent 
effective, successfully rescuing 1 F-117 pilot and 1 F-16CG pilot;

Whereas, during Operation Enduring Freedom in 2001 and Operation Iraqi Freedom 
        in 2003, the A-10 flew 32 percent of the combat sorties in both 
        theaters, and from 2006 to late 2013, the A-10 flew 19 percent of close 
        air operations in Iraq and Afghanistan;
Whereas the A-10 is an effective close air support platform to counter violent 
        extremist organizations, including the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria;
Whereas the continuing demands for close air support in Iraq and Afghanistan 
        keep the A-10 a relevant platform, but one that requires upgrades;
Whereas, if the A-10 is removed from service, certain gaps in responsive close 
        air support, forward air controller, air interdiction, strike control 
        and reconnaissance, and combat search and rescue support could widen;
Whereas the A-10 can be serviced and operated with high sortie rates from 
        austere bases with limited facilities or logistical support near battle 
        areas, including unprepared dirt, grass, and narrow road runways, and 
        from airfields that are too short or rough to handle fast jets;
Whereas global power is essential to preserving global security and stability, 
        and the A-10 is essential to ensuring that the United States is able to 
        continue providing unmatched airpower, to gain and maintain air 
        superiority, and to extend its global reach;
Whereas the A-10 program supports the Air Force, including the Air National 
        Guard and Air Force Reserve;
Whereas, as of the date of adoption of this resolution, the A-10 is flying in 
        operational combat squadrons at--

    (1) Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona;

    (2) Eglin Air Force Base, Florida;

    (3) Moody Air Force Base, Georgia;

    (4) Gowen Field Air National Guard Base, Idaho;

    (5) Fort Wayne Air National Guard Station, Indiana;

    (6) Warfield Air National Guard Base, Maryland;

    (7) Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan;

    (8) Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri;

    (9) Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada; and

    (10) Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea;

Whereas the 355th Wing at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, with an inventory of 84 
        A-10s--

    (1) has deployed 12 times since September 11, 2001, primarily in 
support of troops on the ground; and

    (2) is responsible for training all A-10 pilots;

Whereas the 175th Wing at Warfield Air National Guard Base, with an inventory of 
        21 A-10s, has deployed 6 times since September 11, 2001, primarily in 
        support of troops on the ground; and
Whereas the 442nd Fighter Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, with an inventory of 
        27 A-10s, has deployed 9 times since September 11, 2001, primarily in 
        support of troops on the ground: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that Congress should 
continue to support the A-10 Thunderbolt II program in future fiscal 
years because--
            (1) continued support for the A-10 Thunderbolt II program 
        is imperative to the national security of the United States; 
        and
            (2) the United States cannot afford to risk its national 
        security, or the national security of its allies, by allowing 
        that program to fall short of its vital mission.
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