Latest news with #A-10ThunderboltIIs
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump says Michigan base will stay open, get new fighter jets
President Trump on Tuesday announced Selfridge National Guard base in Michigan will receive 21 F-15EX Eagle II fighters, newer generation jets meant to replace the installation's aging A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, effectively guaranteeing the base's future. The Boeing-made aircraft, previously purchased by the Air Force, will go to Selfidge after years of lobbying from Michigan lawmakers to shore up the future of the 106-year-old Harrison Township base, an installation that has an estimated $850 million impact on the state's economy. 'I've come in person to lay to rest any doubts about Selfridge's future and the vital role it'll play in our initial defense,' Trump said in a speech at the base, during a visit to Michigan to mark the 100th day of his second term in office. 'As commander and chief, I'm proud to announce that very soon, we will replace the retiring A-10 Warthogs with 21 brand-new F-15EX Eagle II fighter jets. The best in the world; brand new,' he said to applause. Trump said new aircraft 'will keep Selfridge at the cutting edge of Northern American airpower,' after the Air Force is expected to begin phasing out the A-10, also known as the Warthog, starting next year. The announcement follows a surprise appearance at the White House by Democrat Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer earlier this month, a visit Trump alluded to in his speech. Whitmer was present at Selfridge during the announcement. 'She came to see me. That's the reason she came to see me, by the way, to save Selfridge. And she was very effective along with some of the other politicians and some of the military people,' Trump said. 'They love this place. They love what it stands for, all the victories they've had here over the years. So I want to thank Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for bringing it also to our attention very strongly.' The announcement comes as the state, which voted for Trump last year, has been rocked by his dramatic flip-flopping tariff policies, given its major automobile industry and its borders with Canada. Home to the 127th wing of the Michigan Air National Guard, Selfridge opened in 1917 and supports an estimated 5,000 jobs. Last year, the base announced it would host a new squadron of Air Force KC-46A Pegasus refueling tankers, meant to replace the outgoing KC-135, which could be phased out as early as 2027. Other aircraft at Selfridge include the Michigan Army National Guard's CH-47 Chinook helicopters, the U.S. Coast Guard's HH-65 Dolphin helicopter, and various other aircraft used by Customs & Border Protection. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
29-04-2025
- Business
- The Hill
Trump says Michigan base will stay open, get new fighter jets
President Trump on Tuesday announced Selfridge National Guard base in Michigan will receive 21 F-15EX Eagle II fighters, newer generation jets meant to replace the installation's aging A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, effectively guaranteeing the base's future. The Boeing-made aircraft, previously purchased by the Air Force, will go to Selfidge after years of lobbying from Michigan lawmakers to shore up the future of the 106-year-old Harrison Township base, an installation that has an estimated $850 million impact on the state's economy. 'I've come in person to lay to rest any doubts about Selfridge's future and the vital role it'll play in our initial defense,' Trump said in a speech at the base, during a visit to Michigan to mark the 100th day of his second term in office. 'As commander and chief, I'm proud to announce that very soon, we will replace the retiring A-10 Warthogs with 21 brand-new F-15EX Eagle II fighter jets. The best in the world; brand new,' he said to applause. Trump said new aircraft 'will keep Selfridge at the cutting edge of Northern American airpower,' after the Air Force is expected to begin phasing out the A-10, also known as the Warthog, starting next year. The announcement follows a surprise appearance at the White House by Democrat Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer earlier this month, a visit Trump alluded to in his speech. Whitmer was present at Selfridge during the announcement. 'She came to see me. That's the reason she came to see me, by the way, to save Selfridge. And she was very effective along with some of the other politicians and some of the military people,' Trump said. 'They love this place. They love what it stands for, all the victories they've had here over the years. So I want to thank Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for bringing it also to our attention very strongly.' The announcement comes as the state, which voted for Trump last year, has been rocked by his dramatic flip-flopping tariff policies, given its major automobile industry and its borders with Canada. Home to the 127th wing of the Michigan Air National Guard, Selfridge opened in 1917 and supports an estimated 5,000 jobs. Last year, the base announced it would host a new squadron of Air Force KC-46A Pegasus refueling tankers, meant to replace the outgoing KC-135, which could be phased out as early as 2027. Other aircraft at Selfridge include the Michigan Army National Guard's CH-47 Chinook helicopters, the U.S. Coast Guard's HH-65 Dolphin helicopter, and various other aircraft used by Customs & Border Protection.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
White House Says DC Will Not Transfer F-16s to Maryland as Part of RFK Stadium Agreement
A deal last year to transfer an F-16 Fighting Falcon squadron from the District of Columbia Air National Guard to Maryland, which emerged amid talks last year to redevelop the city's RFK Stadium is off the table, the White House said. "The F-16s will stay with the DC ANG," the White House said in an unsigned email statement to "The Trump administration will continue to prioritize readiness and warfighting to achieve peace through strength for the United States." A military official familiar with the situation, who spoke with on condition of anonymity to provide insight into the discussions, said the adjutant generals of D.C. and Maryland had been stuck in a stalemate over terms of the deal. Read Next: Bodies of 3 US Soldiers Recovered from Swamp in Lithuania; Search for Last Missing Soldier Ongoing The agreement, reached late last year, was initially praised by Maryland lawmakers as a common-sense way to retain a flying mission as the 175th Wing from the state's Air National Guard starts to divest its fleet of 21 A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, leaving it without a flying squadron. It came amid ongoing discussions for D.C. to gain control of the land around the city's aging RFK Stadium in an effort to win the Washington Commanders football team back to the district. Separately, former President Joe Biden signed the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Campus Revitalization Act in early January, shortly before he left office, allowing redevelopment control and oversight of the stadium site. Last week, Maryland's 175th Wing divested its first A-10 Thunderbolt from Warfield Air National Guard Base at Martin State Airport. It was announced last year that the wing would transition to a cyber wing mission pending the outcome of an environmental analysis slated to be complete this fall. The whole A-10 fleet should be sent to the boneyard at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona -- the final resting place for retired jets and planes. "While this divestment is part of an Air Force-wide modernization effort, we remain fully committed to fighting for a future flying mission in Maryland," Maj. Gen. Janeen Birckhead, the adjutant general of Maryland, said in a statement. "Our airmen deserve the opportunity to continue demonstrating their world-class skill in the air as well as in cyberspace." In a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth earlier this month, Maryland's congressional delegation expressed concerns over the A-10 divestment, particularly that talented pilots and maintainers may leave the service if they don't stay on for another flying mission. "We ask that you immediately pause the divestment of the A-10s at Warfield Air National Guard Base until the Air Force finalizes a replacement flying mission," the letter reads. "We also ask that you work with the delegation to ensure a clear and reasonable timeline for the growth of Maryland's cyber mission is provided to Congress, but not at the expense of a future flying mission for Maryland." The White House, the Department of Defense and the Air Force did not answer questions asking about the new administration's timeline to divest A-10s or whether they want to continue utilizing the aircraft. Notably, the Air Force began divesting its first A-10s in 2022 after years of fierce opposition from members of Congress and advocates of the hefty close-support aircraft known as the "Warthog." previously reported that the military had retired at least 39 A-10s to the boneyard in 2024, but was still using the aircraft in training and as a show of force against enemies. Most recently, more than 300 airmen and several A-10s from Idaho's 12th Fighter Wing deployed Saturday to support U.S. Central Command, according to a news release. Maryland's military leadership said their A-10 wing has been crucial to national security. "The 175th Wing has proven time and again that we are capable of adapting, leading and excelling in every mission we're given," Brig. Gen. Drew Dougherty, Maryland's assistant adjutant general, said in a statement. "But our airmen -- and the state of Maryland -- should not be left as the only state without a flying mission. It's more than tradition; it's a critical component of our national security." Related: DC Air National Guard Will Lose Fighter Jet Squadron to Maryland as Part of Government Funding Deal
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
More A-10 Warthogs deploy to the Middle East
Even as the U.S. Air Force works to retire its fleet of A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, Warthogs are still proving useful in the ongoing fight against ISIS. And now, the U.S. military is sending additional Warthogs to the Middle East. It's part of the latest build up of U.S. military power, as fighting ramps up against Houthi forces in Yemen. The 124th Fighter Wing announced it was deploying more than 300 airmen and 'multiple' A-10s to the CENTCOM area of responsibility. The troops and aircraft, flown by members of the 190th Fighter Squadron, left Idaho on Saturday, March 29. The exact number of A-10s was not disclosed, beyond 'several' being deployed. The Idaho State Journal reports that the troops are on a 180-day deployment. The 124th Fighter Wing's A-10s are the latest to deploy to the Middle East. The close air support aircraft have repeatedly been sent to the CENTCOM area of responsibility in different American military buildup periods since October 2023, when the Israeli war in Gaza began. Most recently additional A-10s arrived in the fall of 2024. The aircraft have played a major role in combat operations in the region. Between November and January, A-10s were part of several aerial attack missions against ISIS militants in Iraq and Syria. In November, they participated in airstrikes against ISIS forces inside eastern Syria. The aircraft also provided aerial support for ground troops fighting ISIS militants in mountainous parts of Iraq in a days-long campaign in late December. Despite regularly deploying the aircraft, the U.S. Air Force is working to retire its fleet of a little more than 200 A-10s by fiscal year 2028, with close air support roles being taken over by fighter jets and bombers. Operations against ISIS targets in Iraq and Syria have been steadily ongoing, but fighting in the Middle East has escalated this month with a restart of hostilities with Houthi forces. The group, which controls much of Yemen, announced it would resume attacks on ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden in response to humanitarian aid blockades into Gaza. Since March 15, U.S. forces have repeatedly bombed Houthi sites in Sana'a and other locations, and intercepted missiles and drones fired towards U.S. Navy assets. The exact number of airstrikes since March 15 has not been disclosed, although CENTCOM has characterized it as ongoing '24/7' on social media. The airmen and aircraft from the 124th Fighter Wing who are deploying are part of a wider surge of American military forces to the region. Last week the USS Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group, including Carrier Air Wing 2, was ordered to the Middle East to join the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, which has been carrying out many of the operations against Houthi forces. Meanwhile B-2 Spirit bombers were sent to Diego Garcia, an island in the Indian Ocean, which is often used as a staging ground for operations in the Middle East. The Army's Master Combat Badges will be coming to soldiers this month Air Force shoots down Houthi drones launched at Navy carrier strike group Medal of Honor recipient depicted in movie 'Glory' erased from Pentagon website 'Saving Private Ryan' didn't make the Army's list of most accurate movie portrayals Army reveals designs for Mountaineering and Mariner Badges
