U.S. to retire three A-10 attack aircraft in S. Korea

By Sam Kim
SEOUL, June 4 (Yonhap) -- The United States said Thursday it plans to retire
three A-10 attack aircraft based in South Korea this year as part of a global
cost-saving project.

In a news release, the U.S. Air Component Command said three A-10 "Thunderbolts"
based in Osan, 55 kilometers south of Seoul, will be put out of service under the
Combat Air Force Restructuring plan.
The plan is aimed at saving about US$3.5 billion over the next five years, the
release said. The U.S. plans to retire about 250 aircraft, including 112 F-15s
and 134 F-16s, globally under the cost-saving measures.
The United States Forces Korea, which has 28,500 troops stationed here as a
deterrent against North Korea, operates two dozen A-10s in South Korea.
No separate replacement plan was announced.
A-10 aircraft are nicknamed "tank killers" for their superb air-to-surface attack
capabilities.
samkim@yna.co.kr
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