I was under the impression ground troops like them a lot.
Best friends!
They LOVE them!
But it's an Air Force plane...
How many front line ground troops does the Air Force have?
Arguably modern targeting pods and smart bombs have reduced or eliminated the need for the A-10. I personally think we need more airplanes and would love to keep the A-10 but - for balance - this is not 1990. Or 2010.
That said, I doubt the current USAF Secretary could find his own butt without a map, flashlight, GPS and guide.
Best infantry low-level air support that exists in the entire world. That 30mm Gatling is an absolute killing machine. Does this AF secretary even have ANY military experience? And I’m not talking about General Officer administrative REMF crap.
Which is why the Air Farce wants to get rid of them.
They want to be glamorous fighter pilots, bomber pilots if not quite good enough for fighters, transport also works. But CAS?
Heavens no!
The dear boys might chip a nail.