Without a doubt, the best in close ground support aircraft to ever fly, PERIOD. If politico’s and DOD contractor execs would stop with their greed, such aircraft could easily be improved upon w/ regards to avionics, weapons systems and performance. No need to change the armor on this aircraft unless it is lighter weight and performs like that on the Abrahams.
Folks on this thread don’t know their butt from a hole in the ground.
The A-10 HAS been upgraded! The changes were significant enough to rename it the A-10”C”!
However, that doesn’t mean it is always the best at CAS. “Bombs on target” quickly and accurately is better than watching a plane fly close to you. Years ago, you HAD to get close to be accurate. I know - I lived those days.
Targeting pods and PGMs have changed reality. With a targeting pod, you can see the target better at 15000 feet than you can flying a plane at 200’. In addition, with ROVER, the ground guys can point out exactly what they want you to hit, reducing blue-on-blue accidents. And with PGMs, you can put the bombs on the bad guys more accurately at 10,000 feet than you can dropping at 200’.
THAT is the reality NOW. And in a place like Afghanistan, where the bad guys pick the local to fight, a fast moving F-15/16 can orbit near the scene, and quickly arrive in position to support the troops in contact. That is faster than an A-10, and allows a few planes to support ground commanders over a broader area.
The A-10 HAS been upgraded with new avionics and weapons systems! That is why it is now the A-10C. Work started years ago - BEFORE 9/11!
Also, with modern targeting pods and precision bombs, an F-15E/F-16 can hit the CAS target from 20,000’ as accurately - or MORE - than an A-10 at 200’.