A Pentagon report out this week says the F-35’s engines aren’t performing up to expectations, and that has Senator Mike Crapo of Idaho concerned.
F-35 Lightning II
“I believe we need to move to new platforms, and I’m hopeful that we can get the F-35 in place, and that it can do what it was intended to do. But this just proves the fact that the administration was premature in deciding to retire the A-10.”
A-10 Thunderbolt II, aka The Warthog
Idaho’s congressional delegation have all come out in support of keeping the A-10 on duty until a replacement aircraft is brought into service. The F-35 is scheduled to replace the A-10, the F-16, F-18 and the AV-8 in the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps. Mountain Home Air Force Base and Gowen Field are possible bases for the F-35.
Currently, there are 22 A-10s assigned to Gowen Field.
