In A Surprise Reversal The F-35 Will Be Tested Against The A-10 On How Effective It Is In Providing Close Air Support

The F-35, left, and the A-10 will be compared in close-air support head-to-head, military officials say. (Photos by the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force)

Washington Post: The F-35 vs. the A-10 Warthog, head-to-head in close-air support. It’s on.

One of the biggest battles between Congress and the Pentagon over the past year has been over a snub-nosed grunt of an airplane, a jet so ugly (and fierce) it’s nicknamed the “Warthog.” It is beloved by the troops, particularly those who have been saved when the A-10 Thunderbolt II, and its huge 30 mm cannon, swooped in to save them in combat.

But despite the aircraft’s revered status, the Air Force has said it has no choice but to retire the fleet at a time of budget constraints. The A-10, officials have said, is designed for a single purpose—taking out enemy ground troops at such close range—a mission that could be taken over by the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the Pentagon’s $400 billion next-generation fighter jet.

Update: A-10 the Pentagon Wants to Retire Will Get Fly-Off Against F-35 -- Bloomberg

WNU Editor: So much for the top U.S. Air Force general saying earlier this week that such a contest would be a "silly exercise" .... U.S. Air Force's Top General Denies Reports That The F-35 And The A-10 Are Going To Square Off In Close Air-Support Tests.