[CGVet58]

your remarks on the A-10 are on the money. The warthog costs (I think...) about 9-12 mil per and is probably the best ground attack fixed wing aircraft due to it's combination of lethality, armor and above mounted engines offering protection from ground fire, relative ease of maintenance, and ability to loiter above the battlefield as an "on call" support.

The only strike against the A-10 is not against the aircraft itself, but against the troubles we still have to overcome with interservice cooperation. Ground units requesting a Warthog would send the msg back to HQ, who then contact their AF counterpart - some of the reports from Iraq had the A10s arriving 30 minutes after the call, and that's unacceptable.

Since the A10 - and the ground attack mission in general - fits into the Air Force Air Superiority/Long Range Strike mentality about as well as a red-headed stepchild in tribe full of pygmies, I think Rummy should go ahead and designate All A10 assets as Army. TacAir belongs there, and that would solve the C2 problems (note how fast the Apaches respond to ground combat in their own support roles).

As for the Comanche killing, the author has some great points - let's hope Rummy keeps pushing in the right direction to keep our soldiers safe and loaded for bear.

Juan

[1stFreedom]

I'd have to agree that the A10 needs to be kept.

In fact, I'd reproduce the A10 but with modern electronics, armour, "supercruise" engines for effeciency, thrust vectoring for better maneuvering, and active and passive anti IR jamming.

If nothing else, just make more of the A10. It's the best bang for the buck.

If I was in trouble, who'd I want to come for me? A10, THEN if none are available, an apache.

Of course if we had dominance of the sky, I'd want an AC-130 gunship there before either. ;-)