U.S. Deploys Twelve A-10s to Romania to Deter Russian Aggression.

The U.S. has deployed 12 A-10 Warthog planes
to Romania as part of a theater-security effort to
counter Russian aggression in Ukraine – all while
debate over whether to retire the close-air
support platform rages on in Congress and the
Pentagon.
"The 354th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron
forward deployed 12 A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft
and approximately 200 Airmen and support
equipment from Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany
to Campia Turzii, Romania over the weekend,"
Pentagon spokesman James Brindle said.
The deployment marks the first ever deployment
of A-10s to Romania, he added.
"The unit will conduct training alongside our
NATO allies to strengthen interoperability and
demonstrate U.S. commitment to the security and
stability of Europe," Brindle explained.
The deployment comes as the future of the A-10
platform lingers in a haze of uncertainty. The Air
Force hopes to retire the planes and save more
than $4 billion. Service officials say the A-10s
will be fully divested from the inventory by 2019.
"We proposed their divestiture across the next
four years in our 2016 budget submission. That
plan would include them to continue to deploy
until we’ve completed divesting the fleet," Maj.
Erika Yepsen, Air Force spokeswoman, told
Military.com.
Air Force officials emphasize that the service
remains committed to providing close air support
for the joint force.
"While the A-10 provides outstanding close air
support, it is not the only aircraft that performs
this mission. However, faced with difficult budget
choices, divestiture of the A-10 presents the least
risk to balancing capability, capacity and
readiness," Air Force spokesman Lt. Col. Chris
Karns, told Military.com.
At the same time, many lawmakers and A-10
proponents have pushed back on this plan,
promising to add money back to the A-10
program during the upcoming 2016 budget bill
mark-ups.
A-10 advocates swear by the aircraft’s unique
ability to withstand ground fire. Several prominent
lawmakers, to include Senate Armed Forces
Committee chairman Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.,
and Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., argue vigorously
for the preservation of the A-10 platform.
Overall, Pentagon officials described the A-10
deployments as part of NATOs Operation Atlantic
Resolve strategy aimed at, among other things,
projecting and deploying force against Russia
"Operation Atlantic Resolve will remain in place
as long as the need exists to reassure our allies
and deter Russia from regional hegemony," he
said.
The A-10s will remain deployed in Romania for at
least about 90 days to conduct various training
events through Eastern Europe.
"These rotational forces really bolster our
capability. They underscore our commitment to
European security and send a clear message that
the US is serious about the stability and security
of Europe," Lt. Col. David Westover, U.S.
European Command spokesman, told
Military.com.
Other elements of the NATO operation include
efforts to deploy more military equipment across
the region and use of the Army’s 3rd Infantry
Division to train land forces in Poland, Estonia,
Latvia and Lithuania.
Over 100 vehicles including Abrams tanks
andBradley Fighting Vehicles were recently
offloaded in Riga, Latvia. The equipment is slated
to be shipped to the Baltic states with the
remaining equipment awaiting offload in
Bremerhaven, Germany, Brindle said.
"Approximately 120 pieces of equipment will be
left behind after 3ID rotates and be relocated to
Germany to support the planned expansion of
U.S. Army Europe's ‘European Activities Set’ from
a heavy battalion to a heavy brigade-sized
equipment set," Brindle said.
Also, at the end of March, a US Patriot missile
battery participated in joint exercises with the 3rd
Warsaw Air Defense Missile Brigade. The US Army
Detachment was composed of 100 soldiers and
30 vehicles, Pentagon officials said.
The 2015 defense bill provides up to $1 billion in
funding for Operation Atlantic Resolve, an effort
which includes a wide range of activities spanning
from F-16s training with the Estonian Air Force
and various U.S. Naval deployments in the Black
Sea. The USS Cole, a guided missile destroyer,
conducted joint training exercises in the Black Sea
with the Romanian Navy in February of this year.
The Atlantic Resolve strategic effort includes an
additional $46 million in security assistance
funding to train and equip the Ukrainian National
Guard. Some of the equipment provided includes
counter-mortar radars, body armor, helmets,
vehicles, night and thermal vision devices along
with radios, patrol boats, rations and tents,
Pentagon officials said.