The Air Force never wanted this plane - or it’s mission. It should be turned back over to the Army who really use/appreciate it.
You are hereby promoted to PLO.
Can’t.
In 1947 congress separated the US Army Air Corps from the army, creating the modern US Air Force and giving it sole responsibility of all things regarding air craft.
The air force jealously guards what they perceive as “their” domain; ALL offensive and defensive air operations.
The air force wants nothing to do with close air support. Close air support calls for slow, heavily armed planes that just aren’t sexy to the air force. The brains at the air force are seduced by speed and stealth, everything the A-10 isn’t.
The air force is EXTREMELY jealous of it’s role as THE master of aircraft.
In the 1960’s the army commissioned Lockheed to develop an attack helicopter and they came up with the AH-56 Cheyenne. As a stopgap they army purchased the Bell AH-1G Cobra for Vietnam use.
The air force was able to squash the contract for the Cheyenne and none were ever built.
In 1972 the army again tried to develop an attack helicopter resulting in first the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk and the Boeing AH-64 Apache.
The Black Hawk snuck in because it was a dual role Utility classed craft. It entered service in 1979.
The air force fought the development of the Apache because they felt it infringed on their territory. Between the air force headwinds and the changing army demands for weapons and survivability the Apache didn’t begin production until 1983.
The air force will never take off the blinders.