Here's How The Air Force Is Going To Shrink Over The Next Five Years

"The USAF plans to divest entire fleets, including the A-10 Thunderbolt II attack plane and U-2 Dragon Lady spy planes, in order to “focus on the multi-role aircraft that can deliver a variety of capabilities combatant commanders require.”

This means that the Air Force is going to shrink over the next five years as a result of the structural changes announced on March 10, following the President’s Budget announced on March 4.

The plan is going to axe some 500 aircraft, reshaping the Air Force as “a smaller and more capable force [...] that can defeat more technologically advanced adversaries” according to Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel.

The reduction will affect squadrons based in 25 States and the District of Columbia; units based abroad will suffer only minor cuts so as to maintain a significant overseas presence. Nevertheless, Osan airbase in South Korea will lose its A-10s, while RAF Lakenheath, in the UK, will probably have to give away a whole squadron.

Over the next 5 years, along with the about 340 A-10s and 33 U-2s, the “adjustment” will cut about 70 F-15Cs, 119 MQ-1 drones, 6 E-8 Joint Stars planes, 7 E-3 AWACS, and 7 EC-130 Compass Call aircraft. These cut aircraft will be partially replaced by some upgraded F-16s, made available as they are replaced by F-35s, and 36 MQ-9 Reaper drones."

at http://theaviationist.com/2014/03/12/fy15-adjustment-plan/#ixzz2vmOy7qJg