FORT WAYNE -- The head of the Indiana National Guard vowed Wednesday to try to keep an attack jet squadron based in Fort Wayne.

Maj. Gen. R. Martin Umbarger told a group of media, local government officials and economic development leaders that the A-10 planes flown by the Air National Guard's 122nd Fighter Wing are both cost-efficient and valuable weapons.

"It's not just about Fort Wayne. It makes total sense for our Air Force; it makes total sense for our nation" to retain the A-10s in Fort Wayne and at Air National Guard bases in Michigan and Arkansas, Umbarger said at the local base.

The Air Force announced Friday it will retire more than 100 A-10s, including those at the 122nd Fighter Wing, which would convert to a base that flies intelligence aircraft.

As an aircraft used to support ground troops, "it's the last plane you'd want to cut," Umbarger said about the A-10 jet. "That's on the tactical side."

And because the 122nd Fighter Wing costs only 28 cents for every dollar spent at an active-duty Air Force base -- largely because the local fighter wing flies out of the neighboring Fort Wayne International Airport – "that ought to carry the day," Umbarger said.

The Fort Wayne base has been named the recipient of an outstanding-unit award given by the National Guard, the fifth such honor for the 122nd Fighter Wing, he added.

"I believe this is a dialogue that needs to go on with the Air Force to keep the A-10 fighter wing here in Fort Wayne," Umbarger said.

Last week's Air Force announcement about realignment of bases and personnel was part of the Pentagon's plan to cut $487 billion in spending during the next 10 years. The amount was mandated by the Budget Control Act approved last summer by Congress.

Under the plan, the Air Force would trim $50 billion in spending and would reduce personnel by 10,000 people, including 5,100 who are in the Air National Guard.

As part of the cuts, more than 100 of the A-10 planes would be retired, including 20 at each of three Air National Guard bases – Fort Wayne; Selfridge, Mich., and Fort Smith, Ark.

The 122nd Fighter Wing is among four Guard bases – the others are in Connecticut, Mississippi and Texas – that would begin flying the MC-12.

The MC-12 is a twin-engine propeller craft designed for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. The A-10, which dates to the 1970s, is best known as a "tank buster" that supports combat troops on the ground with missiles, bombs and an armor-piercing machine-gun cannon.

In response to last week's announcement, the Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce and the Fort Wayne Base Community Council announced a letter-writing campaign Wednesday for Chamber members to show their support for keeping the A-10 squadron in town.

The letters will be sent to Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and Air Force Secretary Michael Donley.

"The business community recognizes the economic importance of the 122nd Fighter Wing in our community," Chamber CEO Mike Landram said in a statement. "We are asking for their immediate help."

Col. David Augustine, local base commander, said last week the federal government spent more than $58 million on the fighter wing in fiscal year 2011, including $43.7 million in pay and benefits.

The White House is expected to release its fiscal year 2013 budget proposal Monday. Many members of Congress have said they will resist military cuts recommended by Panetta.

For more on this story, see Thursday's print edition of The Journal Gazette or visit www.journalgazette.net after 3 a.m. Thursday.

bfrancisco@jg.net