The US Air Force (USAF) wants to save up to $30 billion by retiring expensive-to-maintain older aircraft.
The USAF is looking at ways to save up to $30 billion in its fiscal year 2021 budget by retiring old aircraft and diverting the funds into new procurement. Chief of Staff Gen David Goldfein and Undersecretary Matthew Donovan have once again mooted plans to retire complete fleets or a portion of them in order to free up funds.
![A-10Cs [Khalem Chapman]](https://fullfatthings-keyaero.b-cdn.net/sites/keyaero/files/styles/article_body/public/inline-images/Fairchild-Republic%20A-10C%20Thunderbolt%20II%20%5B81-0956%20%27DM%27%20%2B%2082-0651%20%27DM%27%2C%20354th%20Fighter%20Squadron%20%27Bulldogs%27%2C%20United%20States%20Air%20Force%20-%20Air%20Combat%20Command%2C%20RIAT%202015%5D%20%233.jpg?itok=xYe3E1Pc)
However, previous efforts for such drastic initiatives have been repeatedly thwarted by the US Congress and other lawmakers. The latest discussions include some usual suspects, and efforts appear to be centred upon divesting the A-10C Thunderbolt II, B-1B Lancer, B-2A Spirit, KC-10A Extender, RC-135V/W, E-3 AWACS and the U-2S 'Dragon Lady'.
Follow the link for a full feature on this subject with full analysis, which was featured in Combat Aircraft's December edition - "Replace or retain? The need to divest old aircraft...", written by Jon Lake.
