The Air Force will keep all its A-10 Warthogs and almost completely rebuild them, according to Gen. Michael Moseley, Chief of Staff. At the July 7 inauguration ceremonies for the F-35 strike fighter, Moseley told Air Force Magazine that the 2008 program objective memoranda—the five-year spending plan—calls for thoroughly rewinging the A-10 fleet and funds the entire suite of precision engagement and structural modifications, known as the “Hog Up” program. Moseley noted that while the service originally had planned to take 95 A-10s out of service and use the maintenance savings to pay for the mods, the Air Force has decided not to reduce the fleet after all.
Amid NATO’s continued push to ramp up air defenses in Eastern Europe, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall swung by seven allied countries to boost relations last week, including those on Russia’s and Ukraine’s doorstep.