In a Shift Pentagon Deploys Obsolete, Unnecessary Weapon to Fight ISIS in Syria

From DoDBuzz via H/T at Ace of Spades HQ:

In a change of course, the U.S. Defense Department on Tuesday announced that it deployed A-10 attack aircraft to Turkey to conduct strikes against the Islamic State in Syria.

The Pentagon had already sent the low, slow-flying gunship overseas to attack ISIS targets in Iraq. An A-10 squadron was reportedly sent to undisclosed bases in the Middle East last fall to join the air campaign against the terrorist group, also known as ISIL.

But the U.S. military recently deployed more of the aircraft, known officially as the Thunderbolt II an unofficially as the Warthog, to join F-16 Fighting Falcon and other American military planes at the Incirlik airbase in Turkey .....

The Air Force has proposed retiring its fleet of almost 300 Warthogs over the next several years to save an estimated $4.2 billion a year and free up maintainers for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, a stealthy multi-role fighter jet and the Pentagon’s most expensive acquisition program.

At an average cost of $180,000,00 per plane, the savings of $4.2 billion dollars will buy you 23 F-35's vs. 300 A-10's.