Ending the Close Air Support Controversy
Abstract
The close air support controversy between the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army has entered its forty-third year. The USAF has declared the A-10 Thunderbolt II obsolete and proposes to replace it with a multirole aircraft. Congress has intervened and directed a piecemeal transfer of the A-10 to the Army and Marine Corps for use as an observation aircraft. Analysis indicates that the USAF has always considered close air support (CAS) for the Army a low priority mission, choosing instead to concentrate effort and resources on strategic roles, air superiority and interdiction missions. It has been reluctant, however, to transfer the CAS mission to the Army who, in turn, has been reluctant to accept it. Subtle differences between Air Force and Army doctrine have aggravated the controversy. 'Centralized control/decentralized execution' are interpreted differently by Air Force and Army officers. Availability, command and control of CAS assets is an on-going problem. The debate can be ended by compromise. A blending of roles and missions is required. The Army should be proactive in assuming responsibility for providing its own primary CAS. The A-10 Thunderbolt II, a formidable weapons system that is far from obsolete, should be retained and upgraded as a minimal technical risk aircraft.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 11, 1991
- Accession Number
- ADA236551
Entities
People
- Raoul Archambault
- Thomas M. Dean
Organizations
- Naval War College