The A-10 can be based from a rough airfield that is only minutes from take off to targets. The airfields can be shifted constantly, even landing on roads etc. A C-130 is not nicknamed “Fat Albert” for nothing. Great if you own the entire battlespace above the treetops, but terrible if an enemy has manpads. Sitting ducks, then.
I sometimes wonder how an updated Skyraider would do. they had a really good lift capacity and were really tough from what I have read.
A lot of our Cold War-post cold war battlefield strategy is based on total air superiority.
We sure do take that for granted.
Imagine US troops being subjected to attacks from the air, and the casualties that would result. Granted, we are damn good at that, and inflict a lot of casualties...but if some other enemy had the means, it makes me shudder to consider it.