Regulations and Government
USAF FY2016 Budget: U-2 Survives but A-10 Still Cut
Service chiefs protect F-35, KC-46 and LRS-B but say that sequestration would force further tough choices.
The USAF is persisting with its plan to retire the A-10, despite opposition from Congress and elsewhere. (photo: Chris Pocock)
The USAF is persisting with its plan to retire the A-10, despite opposition from Congress and elsewhere. (photo: Chris Pocock)

Bowing to pressure from Congress and the Combatant Commanders, the U.S. Air Force has reversed its plan to axe the U-2 reconnaissance fleet in Fiscal Year 2016. But the service is sticking to an equally controversial plan to phase out the A-10 close air support fleet by FY2019, which will save $4.2 billion. It also wants to divest the EC-130H Compass Call electronic warfare version of the Hercules.