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I'll ask the same question to you...have you ever actually flown a CAS mission? These threads are always entertaining because the strongest opinions are often from people with no actual experience in what they are arguing. Kind of like listening to airsoft hobbyists argue how best to clear a building. Pew Pew Pew sort of sounds good in movies. And now on Internet forums.....

There is a reason the Marine Corps is perfectly happy flying CAS with hornets and now the F-35. Remember how hard they've fought for a slow moving fixed wing CAS platform in let's say the last 40 years? Neither do I.

Lots of old grey haired experts thinking about dumb bomb CAS against small caliber AAA. Guess what? All the rules have changed. The only thing that hasn't changed is the absolute priority of killing the enemy by getting bombs on time, on target, without killing friendlies. End of story. And if you aren't proficient in receiving a nine line via datalink, using a helmet mounted sight, or guiding the latest generation laser guided munitions with the latest generation targeting pods, you are probably not well qualified to write the newest manual on CAS operations. Or explain why the A-10 is the only effective CAS platform in the inventory.

Oh, I do love the pronouncements of "experts" - and I will go you one better: if you haven't been on the ground, within 300m of a fortified trenchline of the enemy as they cut the grass shorter around you with their massed small arms fire, then you don't know what the recipient's view of CAS is. For your edification, I have sent 9-lines with the best and during my stint after active duty designing advanced technology systems, I helped design ACASS.

Getting the "bombs on time" requires direct communication between the fast movers and the ground pounders, with close and intimate knowledge of the ground situation, friendly locations, fire support coordination measures/restrictions, and the right effects for the target.

JDAMs are gorgeous but sometimes a well placed line of 20mm or 30mm or rockets are what the doctor ordered.

BTW, I used to be a Navy and Air Force qualified FAC, a Naval Gunfire Spotter and a Forward Observer - in combat.

No airsoft here, compadre.

Re: 46

Probably - yes. But there are a variety of viewpoints and perspectives that contribute to a discussion.

When there’s a discussion that requires CAS sorties be documented for one to comment, that would be very interesting to read. Until then, this is what we have on Free Republic, which works fairly well.