I suspect that they would rather just go with drones, than try and maintain the aged A-10 fleet.
[I suspect that they would rather just go with drones, than try and maintain the aged A-10 fleet.]
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It’s all going in that direction. Robotics will take over before we know it.
I’ve long said that Congress should transfer the A-10 fleet and the budget for it to the Army and Marine Corps.
If they were modernized the A-10 would outperform any drones at the moment in terms of payload, firepower, and versatility. That might change soon, but the Air Force brass has never viewed the A-10 as having the “sex appeal” they desire.
I can tell you first-hand it was the favorite aircraft of the grunt and still is. The Hog is an awesome aircraft.