Air National Guard Lt. Col. Kevin Campbell, who flew the Warthog in Afghanistan, told reporters Monday at AFA’s Washington conference that the upgraded A-10C should start carrying Joint Direct Attack Munitions this fall and get the Wind-Corrected Munition Dispenser sometime next year. And, USAF plans to test fire a Hellfire missile from an A-10C in Fiscal 2007, to address a capability gap between the A-10s’ guns and its 500-pound munitions arsenal. Campbell, who is leading the ANG conversion to the A-10C, said that by next spring the Guard should have its first one to two A-10C squadrons operational. He believes the A-10C-equipped units could deploy in fall 2007.
Lt. Gen. Dan Caine, nominee to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the Defense Department needs to upgrade its electronic warfare capability and its EW training ranges; just as his predecessor said at his own confirmation hearing.