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Cleared for takeoff: Aging A-10 gets another decade to support ground troops
War is Boring ^ | 6/17/19 | Andy Wolf

Posted on 06/18/2019 6:42:08 PM PDT by Rebelbase

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To: BwanaNdege

True, but when your at a distant base in Afghanistan and you’ve got Taliban in the wire then you have an immediate need for the 1st plane that can get there whether or not it is the perfect ground attack plane. IOW’s an F-16 that’s 5 minutes out is far better than an A-10 that’s 15 minutes away.

Not knocking the A-10 here. There are no perfect weapons systems. A truly great design involves trade offs and fit into a tactical system. The A-10 does it’s job well.


41 posted on 06/19/2019 4:22:59 AM PDT by Tallguy (Facts be d@mned! The narrative must be protected at all costs!)
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To: posterchild

She probably thinks your tractor’s sexy.


42 posted on 06/19/2019 5:00:03 AM PDT by HighSierra5
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To: McGruff

“Have them fly border patrol.”

There went the coffee. You win the internet for today with that post! Bravo!!!


43 posted on 06/19/2019 5:31:18 AM PDT by EQAndyBuzz (Trump is President and CEO of America, Inc.)
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To: Tallguy

“You’ve just put your finger on one of the problems. The A-10 has legendary loiter capabilities, but it isn’t what they would call a “fast mover”.”

Give me a few A-10’s and a couple of AC-130’s over an active battlefield and I will win every time. Let the F22-35 component keep the sky clear for me.


44 posted on 06/19/2019 5:34:05 AM PDT by EQAndyBuzz (Trump is President and CEO of America, Inc.)
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To: EQAndyBuzz

Sure. That’s what we’d all prefer. It’s just that the enemy “gets a vote”. They’ll wait for that loitering A-10 to head back to the barn before they start the attack. The time & distance problem is only going to get worse when the USAF switches to a Super Tocano or whatever they’re calling the light-attack version of the T-6 Texan.


45 posted on 06/19/2019 6:48:14 AM PDT by Tallguy (Facts be d@mned! The narrative must be protected at all costs!)
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To: Beagle8U

Thunderbolt


46 posted on 06/19/2019 9:39:54 AM PDT by DZAC7
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To: where's_the_Outrage?; reg45; All

I’ve said for about 20 years that the USAF never wanted the WARTHOG and/or the CLOSE AIR SUPPORT mission so the US Army SHOULD receive the A10.
(That dislike of the CAS mission is why that most A10 aircraft are being flown by Air National Guard pilots.)

IF the A10 is ever released to Army Aviation, our young LTs/CPTs & Warrant Officers will “have a ball” tearing up everything from tanks & “strong-points” to railroads/bridges/troop concentrations/etc.

Just my OPINION, TMN78247
USAMPR, Retired


47 posted on 06/19/2019 10:54:54 AM PDT by TMN78247 ("VICTORY or DEATH", William Barrett Travis, LtCol, comdt., Fortress of the Alamo, Bejar, 1836)
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To: antidemoncrat
Every time they showed a 500 lb bomb be used in the mid east to take out a pickup truck or some other type of ground vehicle I kept wondering where are the A10s that could do that job at probably 1/10th the cost.

The standoff capability may have something to do with it. The fighter-bomber can target that vehicle from miles away without them knowing they are being watched. They'll never see it coming. BOOM! The A-10 is a frightening sight but can be seen well before it makes its attack run. Gives the bad guys time to abandon the vehicle and seek cover.

48 posted on 06/19/2019 10:55:50 AM PDT by JimRed ( TERM LIMITS, NOW! Build the Wall Faster! TRUTH is the new HATE SPEECH.)
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To: Rebelbase
Since the late 1980s, the USAF has pushed to retire the A-10. The plane has avoided permanent grounding because of its combat performance, desirability by friendly ground forces, and legendary track record.

Why not just build a new A-10? Slightly modernize/improve the design, upgrade the engines/avionics/etc, and make a new production plane that's almost the same, just using 2020 tech instead of stuff from the 80s. It'll even have a cool name - the A-10A1.

The only thing that comes close to this plane is the AC130, but those are rather more rare in the sky, and don't have nearly the same intimidation factor. Also, I'm sure the A10 is much cheaper to build/maintain.
49 posted on 06/19/2019 3:06:51 PM PDT by Svartalfiar
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To: Beagle8U

Well that was really disappointing.. Your video had no BRRRT in it!


50 posted on 06/19/2019 3:11:19 PM PDT by Svartalfiar
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To: Svartalfiar

“Your video had no BRRRT in it!.”

Gotta have BRRRT in it.

And spent 30mm shell casings falling from the sky.

5.56mm


51 posted on 06/19/2019 3:15:02 PM PDT by M Kehoe (DRAIN THE SWAMP! BUILD THE WALL!)
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To: Pontiac

52 posted on 06/19/2019 6:22:38 PM PDT by Rebelbase
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To: Rebelbase

It must be very frustrating to the enemy.

You can just imagine the boots on the ground screaming at those planes.

“I know I hit it!”

“I know I hit it!”

And A-10 just flys on out of sight.


53 posted on 06/19/2019 6:52:12 PM PDT by Pontiac (The welfare state must fail because it is contrary to human nature and diminishes the human spirit)
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To: katana
Basically, a flying tank. Not sexy enough for the Air Force brass

Air Force brass don’t get cushy, high paying jobs with Boeing, Raytheon or Lockheed after retirement by buying spare parts for a 45 year old plane.

The brass gets these jobs for shepherding a new highly profitable plane through the procurement process.

54 posted on 06/19/2019 7:03:16 PM PDT by Pontiac (The welfare state must fail because it is contrary to human nature and diminishes the human spirit)
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