[doorgunner69]

A very small fraction of what just developing a replacement would cost.

Say, did that congressionally called for demo of the F-35 vs. A-10 CAS capability ever happen?

[Spktyr]

Yes! Turns out that among other problems, the F-35 *cannot* provide enough sorties to replace the A-10.

https://web.archive.org/web/20120519024751/http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/usaf-f-35b-cannot-generate-enough-sorties-to-replace-a-10-371985/