Warthog

U.S. Air Force prepares to support ground war in Eastern Europe…with depleted uranium?

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—A-10 Demonstration of Power – I would not want to be in that tank when those 30mm depleted uranium rounds, firing at 3,900 rounds a minute, shred the inside.[1]

The United States is sending A-10s to Europe [2]

A-10s use depleted uranium.

Do the Europeans really understand what’s in store if the A-10s are used?

Does Europe want more environmental radioactive contamination?

Does Ukraine want DU contamination like Kosovo and Iraq, with cancer and birth defects and permanent environmental damage?

Why aren’t the Baltic states speaking out on this?

Americans will not have to pay the consequences like the people of Europe, or especially the people of Ukraine.

What’s the cost of fear and fear-mongering by foreign and domestic politicians, political parties, and NATO? It’s a destroyed country forever. Isn’t it better to question, even question one’s beliefs and prejudices, than to mindlessly step off a cliff to one’s doom?

Who benefits from this situation?

And who pays?

 

A-10 Thunderbolt Aircraft

Of all the US military platforms that fire DU, the A-10 is responsible for the greatest proportion of DU fired

  • Used for close air support
  • Responsible for the largest share of DU ammunition fired by US forces
  • Due to be replaced by the Joint Strike Figher
  • The A-10, often called the ‘Warthog’, is a close air support aircraft, meaning that it is used as back-up for ground units – typically strafing enemy forces during battle. The main armament on the A-10 is the GAU-8/A, a five barrelled gatling cannon. This cannon can shoot both the PGU-14/B Armour Piercing Incendiary (API) DU round, and the PGU-13/B High Explosive Incendiary (HEI) round, typically in a mix of 5 API to 1 HEI.
  • Because the A-10 has been used so widely, and because it can fire almost 4000 rounds of ammunition per minute, it is responsible for most of the DU contamination from the 1991 Gulf war, and for all the contamination in Serbia, Kosovo and Bosnia & Herzegovina.
  • In early 2010, ICBUW discovered that the US is planning to move away from using DU in medium calibre ammunition, such as the 30 mm rounds used in the GAU-8/A. The A-10 is also scheduled to be replaced by the F-35 Joint Strke Fighter. However, some sources question the suitability of the F-35 for an air support role, and it is expected that the A-10 and its uranium ammunition will remain part of US forces for some time to come.

http://www.bandepleteduranium.org/en/a-10-thunderbolt-aircraft

Also, see
http://www.criticalconcern.com/depleted_uranium.htm
http://www.iacenter.org/depleted/duyug.htm

[1] http://www.military.com/ video/ aircraft/ attack-and-fighter-aircraft/ a-10-warthogs-from-hell/ 1367845281001
A-10 ‘Warthogs From Hell’

[2] https://freeukrainenow.org/2015/02/20/u-s-air-force-leads-nato-reinforcement-against-Russia/
https://rickrozoff.wordpress.com/2015/02/23/u-s-air-force-prepares-to-support-ground-war-in-eastern-Europe/

 

U.S. sends “tankbuster” jets to Europe

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From Zero Hedge, February 18, 2015

Karl-Georg Wellmann, a lawmaker in Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union has warned that, despite its efforts to avoid arms being provided to Ukraine, Germany “will no longer be able to stop weapons deliveries from the U.S. and Canada.” Almost too coincidental to these comments, CNN reports, the U.S. Air Force is sending its A-10 “tankbusters” back to Europe in order to “increase rotational presence in Europe to reassure our allies and partner nations that our commitment to European security is a priority.” As Wellmann ominously concludes, seemingly confirming Putin’s warning yesterday that if Kiev aims at a military solution, war will never end, “a large-scale war could develop out of that.”

And so, as CNN reports, The US is sending in the Warthogs…

The U.S. Air Force is sending its “tankbusters” back to Europe.

The service’s European Command said this week that 12 A-10 Thunderbolts would be deployed to Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, which was formed after Russia’s intervention in Ukraine over the past year.

…

The Air Force said besides operating in Germany, the A-10s will be forward deployed to other partner nations in Eastern Europe. U.S. forces have operated out of bases in Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia and Poland, among others, in the past year. 

The A-10, also known as the “Warthog,” was designed in the 1970s to support ground troops in Europe against the tanks and armored vehicles of the then-Soviet Union. Though the jets can carry a variety of bombs and missiles, they are best known for their nose-mounted, seven-barrel 30 mm Gatling gun that can fire almost 4,000 rounds per minute, enough to quickly blow apart a tank. The planes are also durable, with the pilot protected from ground fire by a wrapping of titanium often called “the bathtub.” And they are designed for easy maintenance in battlefield areas, with interchangeable parts for the right and left sides of the aircraft.

 

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-02-18/us-sends-tankbuster-jets-europe-over-russia-fears-after-germany-says-large-scale-war

Below is the U.S. military release.

U.S. Air Forces in Europe U.S. Air Force Africa
February 18, 2015

Theater security package begins rotation in Europe
By Airman 1st Class Luke Kitterman 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany: The 3rd Air Force commander announced the beginning of the U.S. Air Force’s first European theater security package Feb. 18, 2015, at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany.

U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Darryl Roberson, 3rd Air Force and 17th Expeditionary Air Force commander, addressed media, local authorities and the 52nd Fighter Wing while welcoming the 354th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron at the start of the first European TSP rotation.

According to an initial release by U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa, the squadron will fly with NATO allies and support Operation Atlantic Resolve. OAR is a demonstration of U.S. European Command and USAFE-AFAFRICA’s continued commitment to the collective security of NATO and dedication to the enduring peace and stability in the region.

Twelve U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft and approximately 300 Airmen from the 355th Fighter Wing at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., are supporting this rotation. The unit will train alongside NATO allies and deploy to locations in Eastern European NATO nations to further enhance interoperability.

“This TSP is a long range, strategic capability to allow the Air Force greater flexibility against evolving threats,” Roberson said. “It is not tied to a specific platform or aircraft, but instead is a method of presenting forces at the right time to the right combatant commander. Our abilities must remain agile to sustain and increase regional security.”

Depending on mission and EUCOM requirements, rotations of TSPs will generally last six months. While TSP missions are new to Europe, the Air Force has been conducting TSP rotations in the Pacific since 2004.

“This operation will remain a construct here in Europe as long as it is needed,” Roberson said. “The Airmen of the 354th EFS are ready to give quick support and quick defense. They will continue to reassure our allies the U.S. commitment to NATO.”
https://rickrozoff.wordpress.com/2015/02/19/u-s-air-force-leads-nato-reinforcement-against-Russia/
U.S. Air Force leads NATO reinforcement against Russia