Monday, March 7, 2011

US deploys upgraded A-10 warplanes in S Korea

Brahmand Defence & Aerospace News, brahmand.com

Posted On: Mar 07, 2011

SEOUL (BNS): The US Air Force (USAF) has deployed its upgraded A-10 ground attack aircraft in South Korea as part of a scheduled deployment, according to a news report.

A total of 12 upgraded A-10 warplanes, capable of carrying conventional munitions, including general-purpose bombs, have been deployed at the US Air Force base in Osan, the official Yonhap news agency reported Monday.

About 350 US airmen and the 12 A-10C jets are activated as the 354th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron at the USAF base in Osan, about 55 kilometers south of Seoul, and will work alongside the South Korean Air Force for about six months, the Korean news agency said quoting a US 7th Air Force statement.

The A-10 'Thunderbolt' is a twin-engine combat aircraft used to provide close-air support to ground forces and employs a wide variety of conventional munitions.

The fighter, with short takeoff and landing capability, is used to target tanks, armoured vehicles and other ground installations.

The upgraded A-10C Thunderbolt II, with its precision engagement technology based on laser and GPS, is capable of carrying precision-guided bombs.

Source

Comment: I'm trying to confirm this questionable news info. Why 354th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron??? In fact, the 354th Fighter Squadron is assigned to the 355th Fighter Wing, Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona. And in reality, assigned to the 51st Fighter Wing, Osan AB, is the 25th Fighter Squadron!!!

2 comments:

  1. To Joachim Jacob:

    Just found this website. When a squadron deploys overseas under the Aerospace Expeditionary Force concept of the USAF, general orders are issued that place that unit under the wing it will be "temporarily" assigned. In this case, the element of the 354 FS that deployed to Osan AB was designated as the 354 EFS and assigned to the 51st Operations Group, 51st Fighter Wing, while deployed here. It joined the 25 FS, aleady an assigned unit to the 51 OG.

    John Okonski
    51 FW Historian

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  2. To Joachim Jacob:

    Added comment: The general orders provide a lineal record of the 354 EFS in Air Force history. This will ensure that the 354 EFS is recognized should any awards, etc, and legal standing of the squadron be questioned in the future.

    John Okonski

    ReplyDelete