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 August 25, 2015 / Modified aug 25, 2015 5:26 a.m.

Air Force Secretary: Ground A-10 for Budgetary Reasons

Congress resists retiring plane that is primary aircraft at Davis-Monthan.
by Christopher Conover

Davis Monthan A-10 SPOT An A-10 plane sits in a hanger at Davis Monthan Air Force Base.
AZPM

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Congress has not passed a budget and the Air Force wants to see a change to the spending plan working its way through the process.

Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James used her State of the Air Force briefing Monday to reiterate her desire to save money by retiring the A-10 airplane.

“If we had billions more we would love to maintain the A-10,” James said.

Congress has repeatedly funded the A-10 fleet over the objection of the President and the Defense Department.

The A-10 is the primary plane flown at Tucson’s Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. Earlier this year, the Air Force put nine Davis-Monthan planes into reserve status, essentially grounding them. Air Force officials say the move was a budget saving measure.

MORE: Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Economy, Military, News, Tucson
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