At 50,000 feet could you not put several platforms over the battle space, with 12 hour loiter times, and cover it all?
Or, is the over riding concern being let down due to lack of commitment to CAS and those platforms being otherwise directed?
If that is the logic, I have a new understanding.
The A-10 has one use and one mission. It’s always available to do that.
That is alot if it. The modern battle space is occupation and search and destroy. The pitched battle, while both awesome and extremely important, is really only the small initial part of modern warfare.
Also we have only been discussing fixed wing. We also just got rid of the Kiowas, they were one of the most effective rotary wing platforms we had. Loved the replaceable gun/missle pods. They could be quickly equipped differently to meet the mission requirements.