III 

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; 


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•SRES 149 IS 

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; 


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•SRES 149 IS 

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 perVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:01 Apr 13, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR149.IS SR149

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•SRES 149 IS 

cent 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; 


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(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 

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that Con2 gress should continue to support the A–10 Thunderbolt 

3 II program in future fiscal years because— 

4 (1) continued support for the A–10 Thunder5 bolt II program is imperative to the national security 

6 of the United States; and 

7 (2) the United States cannot afford to risk its 

8 national security, or the national security of its alVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:01 Apr 13, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR149.IS SR149

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1 lies, by allowing that program to fall short of its 

2 vital mission. 

Æ 


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