An inadequate engine for its duties is the most critical shortcoming for the A-10C right now, Maryland Air National Guard Lt. Col. Kevin Campbell told reporters Tuesday afternoon at AFA’s Air & Space Conference in Washington. Current combat operations require the aircraft to fly at high-elevation and high-temperature locations, making it necessary for maintenance crews to remove either fuel or ammunition. “Either one of those is equally important to the United States Army,” he said. “We can’t loiter as long or we don’t have enough bullets to cover ’em, and that’s a huge issue.” Air Combat Command officials say they are still pursuing Hog engines, but Campbell declared that the A-10C engines are not even close to getting the necessary funding.
Amid a high-profile recruiting crisis, Air Force leaders and experts have increasingly noted the challenging long-term trends the service will face in enticing young Americans to sign up—decreasing eligibility to serve, less propensity to do so, and less familiarity with the military. But while those same leaders say there’s no “silver…