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“Both statements are correct. We will in fact replace the A-10s with F-35s, that is the plan,” said Frank Kendall, under secretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics.

But Kendall said there should be no expectation that the F-35 will perform in the same way as the A-10 on the battlefield.

“The A-10 was designed to be low and slow and close to the targets it was engaging, relatively speaking,” he said. “We will not use the F-35 in the same way as the A-10, so it will perform the mission very differently.”

Firstly, shouldn't 'under secretary' be one word? And no, the F35 won't be anything close to the same thing as the A10. The F35 will have the same 'CAS' style as the f16 - it'll come in for a quick bombing run, then throw up their deuces and maybe come back half an hour later. If you're lucky. The F35 isn't designed for CAS, can't perform CAS, and should fail this comparison easily. BUT, the Chair Force loves their fast-movers, so I'm sure the 35 will get a huge handicap and have the deck stacked in it's favor. The only competition the A10 will be allowed to win (to make it seem fair!) will be loiter time. No way they can fake a F35 win on that one.

Svartalfiar wrote:
The only competition the A10 will be allowed to win (to make it seem fair!) will be loiter time. No way they can fake a F35 win on that one.

Wanna bet? Have a crap ton of KC135 tankers parked over head for quick refueling.