As a guy on the ground, I was never that concerned with their ability to hit what they were aiming at. Both of them make big booms, and if they miss, they can whack 'em again. I was always less concerned about their ability to hit what they were aiming at and more concerned that they were aiming at the bad guys. Things on the ground can get really chaotic.
With the A-10, that was never a problem. I could have a friendly get to know you chat while they were looking at what I was looking at and make sure we got everything straight before they unleashed hell. I was always amazed that the F16s ever got a good fix on who was where they flew by so fast. On at least on incidence, they hit the wrong tree line. And that was on a range that they had to be familiar with. I know they are all good guys, but it seems like the likelihood of friendly fire mistakes is much much higher with F16s as opposed to A10s. That is not a ding at the pilots, that is a ding on the equipment.
I have no doubt that the F16 is a fine aircraft. It is not a fine CAS aircraft.
Sun Tzu talked about 'if you try to be strong everywhere, you will be strong no where' The F16 is a fine fighter plane, but they compromised on its CAS mission. And if the AF succeeds in getting rid of the A10, that is all the CAS we'll have.
I really dislike even the next generations of 'all purpose' fighter. The very things that make something a good CAS plane make it a poor fighter. And I guarantee that the AF will never compromise its all purpose fighter's air combat abilities to make it a good CAS plane.
Actually, I agree with you. Target identification is a primary consideration for CAS. Accuracy is another, though - being able to lay down munitions with precision allows for closer deployment of those weapons to our own troops, when necessary.
I remember the Gunsmoke dustup because I worked on the initial LASTE project.
I was a 14E - PATRIOT Missile System Officer - during Desert Storm, so I have to admit that I have great respect for all of our aircraft and their courageous pilots. But the Warthog will always have a special place in my heart! :-)