Nope, that's just not true; and here's the counterexample:
Posted on 01/23/2015 1:19:39 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum
"The moral is to the physical as three is to one," Napoleon said about the elements of military strength. Two signs that would make Napoleon worry.
First, the background. Two military airplanes are getting a lot of attention: the A-10 "Warthog"—"Honey Badger" would be a better name—a kind of flying tank that has been crucial in "close air support" missions from the first Gulf War onwards; and the F-35 "Lightning II," a still-in-development multi-purpose airplane that has been plagued by technical problems, production delays, and cost overruns.
(Excerpt) Read more at theatlantic.com ...
Military contractors are no different from the likes of Solyndra, Goldman Sachs, or CGI (the Obamacare software company).
They are all seeking to make as much money as possible off the government and the US taxpayer. They will promote and push for that program which does.
The unit cost of the platform has to figure into every mission profile. Would you jeopardize a very expensive high tech aircraft going into a high risk environment when a relatively inexpensive capable alternative was available?
I was worried about you until I read the end of your last sentence. I feel the same way.
The Air Force has never wanted the A10, because they hate the mission. Congress should take the A10 out of service with the Air Force...and give it to the Army. Let them fly their own close support as the Marines do.
And how do you come to that conclusion?
Deep strike is completely different than CAS.
A/A is completely different than CAS.
CAS is unique. Basically, CAS means the application of firepower under positive control in proximity to friendly forces.
Hear! Hear!
“The Air Force needs to turn the A-10s and their CAS role over to the Army and Marines. Then the Air Force can go play in their “wild, blue yonder” with their Mach-Gazillion fighters.”
Throwing the piglets out with the bath? What about the Hog Drivers? Don’t they deserve some respect? A vote? THEY love the mission and the jet. And most love their Air Force.
They understand the mission and risks and the rewards of CAS and have no interest in A/A.
Military contractors are mostly former or retired military men that served and still have friends or family on the line. They will support a product with their whole heart if they believe in it. Sadly, senior executives of many of these major defense contractors are led by civilians that have not served and they worship the buck more than the mission and the men in harms way. So, you have a situation where the best guys work to develop the best kit sometimes end up with a product that isn't exactly the best available. . .and they know enough not to push too hard to ‘sell’ what they know is second or third ranked. Generally, civilian defense contractors have no such honor that stops them.
Seriously, I know what you saying and respect you for that, and what you say sounds reasonable from an accountants point of view, but fighter pilots have fangs, regardless of the jet they fly, and when someone is calling for immediate/emergency CAS, every fighter pilot wants to sink their fangs into the enemy.
Answering a question from an elected member of Congress should not be ‘treason’. It should be called ‘duty’.
I love hearing these comments from you “experts”.
How many of you have ever flown a fighter?
Did it ever occur to any of you that we might need both?
Nope, that's just not true; and here's the counterexample:
give the CAS responsibility and $$$$ to the Army/Marines
USAF gets everything above (terrestrial) in the air/space.
A 10 Warthog- effective, well armored and well armed. Has a 30mm Gatling gun with depleted uranium projectiles that “self explode” on impact. Terrifies the savage Muslims when it makes a turn straight for them and opens up. Rightly called the “Thunderbolt 2.” Great for ground troop close air support. Has a proven track record. Well regarded for proven performance by ground forces.
The USA can almost buy 5 A 10’s for every F 35.
F 35 claim to fame...costs about 90 Million dollars each.
You mean the SR-71?
Hm, I was unaware of any fighter variant.
YF-12A ?
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