A-10 from Davis-Monthan AFB lands at Lajes Field, Azores, Portugal on the way to Europe. February 11, 2015.The U.S. Senate began debating the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) on Wednesday. The bill tells the Department of Defense how to spend its budget.
Sen. John McCain, is the chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, the body responsible for writing the NDAA. As the bill was introduced on the Senate floor he told his colleagues keeping the A-10 aircraft flying is a priority in the bill.
““Divesting the A-10 capability at this time incurs unacceptable risks in the capacity and readiness of the combat Air Forces without a suitable replacement available,” said McCain.
The A-10 is the primary aircraft flown at Tucson’s Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. It is used to support ground troops under enemy attack.
The Air Force wants to retire the plane. McCain and Rep. Martha McSally are working to keep the plane flying.
The White House is threatening to veto the NDAA.
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