“The Air Force is sticking by its guns, portraying the Warthog as a limited aircraft ...’
The jet jockeys hate to fly “low and slow” even if it provides the best support. If they don’t want to fly them then they should bring back the Army and Marine pilots to fly them.
If you’re dropping bombs, a Predator drone will do the job too. And you can have the Forward Air Controller on the ground helping guide it.
Or fold the Air Force back into the Army. At least have Army generals doing official evaluations of Air Force officers, based on how well they handle ground support.
“The jet jockeys hate to fly “low and slow” even if it provides the best support.”
It doesn’t provide the best support now. I’ve worked target pods, and I flew back when going low was the only option. The modern targeting pods and PGMs make it possible to be more accurate from higher altitudes.
This was a case of the B-1 and JTAC not doing their jobs.
“In the June 9 tragedy on a ridge line in Afghanistan, the Air Force JTAC provided the wrong coordinates to the B-1, in part based on the bomber crew’s detection of no infrared strobe signals at that location.”
BTW - I also spent 2 years as an ALO.
I wouldn’t be so dismissive of “jet jockeys”. I’ve never met an A-10 pilot who didn’t LOVE flying the Warthog.
That's the right answer, but the Marines now salivate for the F-35 and the Army will not sacrifice their Helo budget.
Good, maybe it's time the Navy Seals get an Air-Wing. Give them the A-10. They are the most Ad BAss guys on the planet, why not give them a Ad BAss airplane. Only after they give them to the Israeli's for a year or two to trick them out Israeli Style :-)...