“Find me one A-10 pilot who would refuse to transition into the F-35. Just one.”
Find me one Marine or Army infantry private who’d prefer cover fire from the F-35 over the A-10. Just one.
The A-10s recent precision stand off munitions upgrade keeps it in the game but an A-10 can't put ordnance on target if its a smoking hole in the ground .
Modern air defense is wicked and the A10 is very vulnerable
Ask a marine whether he would rather have air support from an F35B STOVAL operating from a stretch of highway 30 miles to the rear or from a carrier just off shore with rapid turn around or an A-10 based 500 miles away.
You might be surprised at what you hear
No pilot that values his life wants to fly anything but an F22 or F35 on the first few hours on day one of a major conflict
That's a fact