There are always brass on the political Pentagon insider track of the military who want that crap.
Boots on the ground want something slow and durable enough to hang over the battlefield and do a thorough job.
There are always brass on the political Pentagon insider track of the military who want that crap.
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They know they’ll get lucrative jobs later on if they shovel billions of dollars towards the defense contractors.
True but the perfumed princes might actually be thinking tactically here. The 35’s VSTOL ability may see it deployed closer to the action than the A10. Quicker ToT and quicker rearm and return. Just a thought.
The F-35 can take out more equipment and emplacements the the A-10.
Precision and cluster bombs are the key.
Exactly what I was going to say. I have very close relatives in the sand and in the mud, and they love the A-10. The only problem with that aircraft is it doesn't bring enough jobs to key congressional districts. Otherwise it's the perfect platform for its mission. Those who advocate something expensive and delicate instead of a robust platform that delivers are traitors.
Did search: How many 30mm rounds does an a 10 carry?
The magazine drum can hold 1,350 rounds of 30mm ammunition
The F-35A, 180 rounds can be housed in the gun’s linkless ammunition handling system. For the F-35B and F-35C, they both rely on an external gun pod carrying the GAU-22. The gun pod can hold 220 rounds
A-10 should win for that alone let alone much lower cost and being more rugged.