Get some upgraded F-15s out there, and get the F-22s going again. Upgrade and update the A-10. A ground attack aircraft needs to be able to go low and slow, the straight wing design is great.
Why not build a new A10 with today’s technology?
I’m pretty sure we can’t get the F-22 going again. IIRC we scrapped the tooling.
I work on a military contract with AF mechanics. Very passionate folks when it comes to their planes. While just a laymen when it comes to US military aircraft I can provide a quick synopsis, based on conversations with these guys.....
F-22 .... the baddest motherf*cker in the sky. During war games it will shoot planes as they’re taking off and more than one at a time
F-15 .... an absolute beast of a plane that is a pain in the a$$ to keep flying but with its radars & avionics, still one of the baddest planes flying. I was told that during some conflict the Israeli’s were having with whoever, at the time, Israeli F15s were shooting the other guys planes as they were taking off, from way way way out in the Mediterranean
F16 .... still an absolute beast of a ground attack fighter, but an older plane. Our F16s are amazing, but upgrades can be made. They liken the F16 to that really fun sports car that you love to drive, given its smaller size compared to the others.
A10 .... When you ask these guys about the A10, if they had the chance to work on them, you can sense the emotion in how they talk about it. Tidbit, the cockpit is offset from the center-line of the plane since it was designed around the gun. To the man: keep the basic design, newer-more powerful engines, upgrade avionics and radars and keep building them. During his tour in A’stan, my nephew loved it when they showed up for CAS. Told me that one flyover and the gunfight was over, whether they dropped ordinance or not. Haj was that terrified of the plane. Of course, you only knew it was there is if it was shooting at you, with the gun, or did a flyby as they are very quiet.....