More fixation on the gun.
The F-35 will have speed, stealth (when slick) and a far better EO system than the A-10 will ever have.
Face it.
The A-10 is great for CAS, but isn’t capable of hanging with the big dogs in contested airspace.
The F-16 dropped far more ordnance in Iraq than the A-10 did. And dropped it closer and farther out.
The F-16 dropped far more ordnance in Iraq than the A-10 did.
Duh, way more F-16’s. Right?
And dropped it closer and farther out.
Which service didn’t, well wouldn’t for a long time, up grade the A-10? It’s name escapes me.
Which aircraft had the lessor maintenance man hours and flight cost per sortie?( airframe/engin hours being equal and such )
We should just buy off enemies, it would be cheaper than flying F-35’s against them.
I’m with putting the CAS in the Army. The Air Force other than justifying fighters isn’t interested as an institution other than using it as budge leverage.
Give them deep penetration, space and air space control.
The fighter guys should be happy because they can drop a lot of drag, weight and keep their chariots nice and air stripped sexy for..er...when ever.
I haven’t heard of any contested airspace in Iraq or Afghanistan. I work with F-16, A-10 and F-15E pilots every day. I know what they drop and how they do it, Not a one of them is happy wih a hundred plus bullets for the F-35.