U.S. House panel votes to save A-10 fighter fleet

• A provision blocking the Pentagon's plan to eliminate the A-10 is part of the 2016 National Defense Authorization Act.
• Pentagon officials had said they needed the cost savings to pay for other priorities.

WASHINGTON — In a victory for the Arizona economy and freshman Rep. Martha McSally, the House Armed Services Committee voted Thursday to retain the A-10 fighter fleet.

The provision blocking the Pentagon's plan to eliminate the A-10 is part of the 2016 National Defense Authorization Act, which passed the committee by a 60-2 vote.

Pentagon officials had said they needed the cost savings to pay for other priorities.

The authorization legislation outlines policy and funding for the military and is expected to be taken up in the full House in May.

McSally, a former A-10 pilot and squadron leader, led the effort to save the fighter, known as "the Warthog." It is popular with ground troops because of its effectiveness in close air support.

Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson houses about 80 A-10s, more than one-fourth of the fleet, and is the primary training facility for A-10 pilots.

An amendment offered by McSally not only maintains the entire A-10 fleet, it also prevents the Air Force from placing any aircraft on backup status, which was done with 18 planes last year.

"Southern Arizonans have seen continual threats to the A-10 Warthog, and unlike years past, my amendment will fully protect the Warthog next year," McSally said in a statement.

The bill also authorizes $682 million to pay for operation of the A-10 fleet.

The legislation still must pass the full House and the Senate. And Congress must also pass legislation appropriating funds that are authorized in the NDAA.

Arizona's Sen. John McCain is chairman of the Armed Services Committee and is committed to retaining the A-10.

Contact Bill Theobald at wtheobal@gannett.com or follow on Twitter @BillTheobald.