The A-10s of the 354th Fighter Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, Mont., have flown more than 1,700 combat sorties in Afghanistan since Sept. 15. “Our A-10s have provided non-stop presence and lethal firepower since we arrived,” says Lt. Col. Martha McSally, squadron commander. Clearly, as we reported here, air operations have increased over the fall in Afghanistan as well as Iraq. McSally credits the success of her unit’s ability “to seek out and destroy” remaining enemy combatants to the squadron’s close integration with conventional and special operations troops on the ground. She also says the “weapon of choice” for A-10 pilots is the aircraft’s 30 mm cannon because of its “pinpoint accuracy.” During 6,000 combat hours, the unit has fired more than 20,000 cannon rounds among other munitions, depending on proximity to friendly forces.
House lawmakers unveiled a new reconciliation package July 15 with $60 billion for defense, $290 billion less than the Pentagon has been seeking, a day after a Senate vote to advance the annual defense policy bill failed—developments that show the perilous state of the Pentagon’s ambitious plans for fiscal 2027.