The United States plans to send older A-10 attack planes to the Middle East as part of the Pentagon's effort to switch modern fighters to Europe and the Pacific to counter Russia and China, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing government officials.
As per the new strategy, a group of A-10s will be stationed in the area together with two units of F-15Es and F-16s. The US Central Command, which oversees operations in the Middle East, will also reportedly keep two to three ships in the region, as well as two Army Patriot antimissile battalions.
The Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II has been in Air Force service since 1976, and the latest move is considered controversial due to the perceived lack of competitiveness with China's military capabilities, as per the report.
