Could This Airplane Replace the A-10 Warthog? (Textron Scorpion)

The Motley Fool ^ | March 15, 2015 | Rich Smith

[EveningStar]

After more than four decades in service, the A-10 Warthog is due for a replacement. So says the U.S. Air Combat Command.

What's more, ACC says it's already "thinking about" fielding such a replacement. But what might that replacement be?

Last week, we got a clue. As reported by Reuters, the Air Force has recently begun evaluating Textron's Scorpion fighter jet as a potential 21st-century replacement for the 20th-century Warthog.

[dasboot]

No. No. And, No!

Not even close.

[Svartalfiar]

Textron describes Scorpion as a modern "surveillance and strike" aircraft boasting:

The A10 isn't a "surveillance and strike" aircraft. It's close air support. It's a big difference. Anderson pointed out that Textron originally developed Scorpion to perform a "Multi Mission, ISR/strike platform" role. It thus was not designed to duplicate the A-10's mission; it prefers using precision weapons to attack ground targets from a safe distance out of range of enemy defenses.

So they're trying to replace the A10 with another airframe that wasn't even designed to do what the A10 does? That sounds like a bad way to even start the argument.

As Anderson explains it, "two abilities are critical" for any aircraft performing close-air support: "The ability to communicate with ground forces, and the ability to find and fix a target." Anderson argues that "Scorpion is very good in both these roles,

Also, survivability. Durability. Can the Scorpion get back to base with a wing blown off? Can the cockpit/fuel/engines withstand small-mid arms fire?
Psych. You hear the buzz of the A10, you know you weren't the target. But you know he's here and you could be the next one in his sights. Does the Scorpion have the same fear factor?

Relative to the A-10 Warthog, Textron's Scorpion has about half as much engine power -- but also half the weight

Right. Half the weight because it has almost no armor?

But for a U.S. Air Force that's increasingly strapped for cash, with much of its budget tied up buying high-end F-35 fighter jets, Textron's Scorpion seems to offer a way to perform low-tech, low-and-slow close-air support on a budget.

Sigh... The only thing surprising in this article is that the replacement they mentioned wasn't the F-35. But how difficult is it to simply upgrade the A10, a proven system that works great, and is the only fixed-wing CAS system we have?

[rdcbn]

Americans elected Barak Obama.

Obama has cut defense spending to such a degree that the air force cannot afford to field the A-10 and continue to modernize it's forces.

The A-10 is simply being frozen out for funding reasons, which is a disaster because about half the fleet of A-10 has been modernized with new wings, along with an airframe and avionics overhaul and modernization.

[OKSooner]

Gee whiz... /s

[Kickass Conservative]

Start building some new P-47’s. The A-10 of its time.

We just need to develop some 50 Cal. Depleted Uranium Rounds.

[Organic Panic]

I will head to the bank. I have a contract to build flight control components for the Scorpion Jet. It is an impressive jet for it’s purpose.

[biff]

And those specs are probably lean and clean like you see in the photos. Load her up with armor as well as other reinforcements and you will end up with a plane that can loiter for 45 minutes and carry two 250 pounders.

[rockinqsranch]

Congratulations. Go for it. Opportunity knocks.

[publius911]

You just described the a-10.
With the bonus of unsurpassed crew survivability, awesome power, and the benefit of decades of power plant improvements, structural materials and proven firepower.
Some designs are timeless. Most people don’t realize how many updated c47s are still flying.

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

I believe between 4 and 6 thousand pounds( maybe a little more depending on range required for said mission.I know it would haul more than a B-17 of WWII.

[deweyfrank]

We need new Generals. NOW!!!

[huldah1776]

Nothing this current government does will be good for the boots.

[publius911]

How cute!
A pro-sodomy airplane thingy!

[Half Vast Conspiracy]

I worked with a guy who flew them in Vietnam.

The A-10 wasnt FOC Until 1978

[Taxman]

Thanks!

I spent FAR too many years in government contracting!

That decision tree applies almost everywhere!

[yarddog]

We were talking about the A1 Skyraider.

[Taxman]

I joined the Navy to fly Spads.

Much to my chagrin, the Spad training squadron (VT-30) was decommissioned before I got to Corpus Christi, and I did not get to flyem! DAGNABBIT!

Thanks for the airshow!

[norton]

Does the F-5 come to mind?

[norton]

On second thought;

Rutan/Scaled Composites can accomplish almost anything and their Scorpion looks to me like a really apt drone application.

US policy is all about drones so maybe a mix of "obsolete" and "next generation" would fit. (if we're out of Spads we can't afford to drop the Hogs).

[Taxman]

Wikipedia is your FRiend: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_A-1_Skyraider

This writeup says the Spad had an 8,000 lbs ordnance capacity on 15 external stations, plus, of course, ammo for the 20 mm.