The A-10 is an “incredible asset” for the Air Force and the nation, and the demand for it has increased recently, the nominee for undersecretary of the Air Force told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Dec. 15. “We’re taking a hard look at it, and if confirmed, I look forward to working towards an acceptable plan for recapitalizing this incredibly important mission area. All options are on the table,” said Lisa Disbrow, the current assistant secretary of the Air Force for financial management and comptroller, who also is performing some duties of the undersecretary of the Air Force. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), the committee’s chairman, said he hopes Disbrow “will not come before this committee with a request to phase out the A-10 aircraft when … according to the President of the United States yesterday, we will be stepping up our attacks in both Iraq and Syria. And it’s pretty obvious that the A-10 aircraft is one of the major tools to be used to try to destroy ISIS from the air.” (Disbrow prepared testimony.)
Boeing’s receipt of the 10th lot contract award for the KC-46 Pegasus this week leaves just three lots left to complete the Air Force’s buy of the tanker, although a further buy of 75 additional aircraft as a “bridge” to the Next-Generation Aerial-refueling System (NGAS) seems increasingly likely.