The A-10s recent precision stand off munitions upgrade keeps it in the game but an A-10 can't put ordnance on target if its a smoking hole in the ground .
Modern air defense is wicked and the A10 is very vulnerable
Ask a marine whether he would rather have air support from an F35B STOVAL operating from a stretch of highway 30 miles to the rear or from a carrier just off shore with rapid turn around or an A-10 based 500 miles away.
You might be surprised at what you hear
No pilot that values his life wants to fly anything but an F22 or F35 on the first few hours on day one of a major conflict
That's a fact
You are making sweeping generalizations about what pilots want, please tell me how you can do that. All pilots (sweeping generalization) are different. A major conflict (I imagine you are referring to a high threat scenario) is rare and besides, we A10 drivers always knew we were going to be chewed up in any confrontation with the Soviets—most of us were thinking we would be lucky if we lasted three days in a major war with the Soviets.
I said “Soviets” presents the most lethal threat because it is the operator behind the trigger that makes a difference—see Gulf War I where the Iraqis had loads of sophisticated Soviet/Russian gear making up their integrated Air Defense Network, too include state of the art Soviet fighters. Didn’t do them much good.
Cheers, my FRiend.
You believe what you want. I have a 25-year USMC veteran who says otherwise.