“The Air Force top brass are a bunch of bean counters that believe they can build and operate one aircraft that can meet the mission requirements of multiple roles.”
And provide ground support from 35000 feet.
A-10’s don’t fly at 35,000ft.
“And provide ground support from 35000 feet.”
To give the AF F4 Phantom pilots some small credit, a few of them DID come below 10,000 feet AGL doing their version of “close air support” during the southeast Asia games.
There is an excellent reason why the Marine Corps has our own air support.