Washington — A deal struck by Congress late Tuesday will save more than 20 A-10 planes at Selfridge Air National Guard base — despite a Pentagon plan to retire the planes.Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Harrison Township is home to 21 A-10 aircraft, said Sen. Carl Levin, D-Detroit, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Under the deal announced Wednesday, the Pentagon couldn’t get rid of the planes but could reduce flying time.
In February, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel announced plans to retire the entire A-10 fleet of aircraft, including all of the planes at the base in Harrison Township.
“The bill would allow a reduction in active duty A-10 flying hours under limited circumstances. In particular, if the secretary of Defense, after receiving an independent review by the Director of the office of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation, determines that it would be necessary to avoid unacceptable reductions in readiness or unacceptable delays in the F-35 activation program, he may authorize the Air Force to reduce flying hours for active-duty A-10s by placing up to 36 aircraft on “backup flying status” for the duration of the year,” Levin said.