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Could This Airplane Replace the A-10 Warthog? (Textron Scorpion)
The Motley Fool ^ | March 15, 2015 | Rich Smith

Posted on 03/15/2015 5:15:56 PM PDT by 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.

(Excerpt) Read more at fool.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: a10; a10warthog; aerospace; aviation; gouglyearly; motleyfool; nyse; scorpion; textron; textronscorpion; themotleyfool; warthog
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To: EveningStar

No. No. And, No!

Not even close.


41 posted on 03/15/2015 7:01:30 PM PDT by dasboot
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To: EveningStar
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?
42 posted on 03/15/2015 7:07:48 PM PDT by Svartalfiar
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To: EveningStar
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.

43 posted on 03/15/2015 7:12:12 PM PDT by rdcbn
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To: EveningStar

Gee whiz... /s


44 posted on 03/15/2015 7:13:17 PM PDT by OKSooner ("Remember Fort Hood, Boston, and Moore, Oklahoma.")
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To: Svartalfiar

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

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


45 posted on 03/15/2015 7:15:15 PM PDT by Kickass Conservative (Advertising Space Available here.)
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To: rockinqsranch

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.


46 posted on 03/15/2015 7:15:36 PM PDT by Organic Panic
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To: yarddog

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.


47 posted on 03/15/2015 7:17:06 PM PDT by biff (Et Tu Boeh-ner)
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To: Organic Panic

Congratulations. Go for it. Opportunity knocks.


48 posted on 03/15/2015 7:18:02 PM PDT by rockinqsranch ((Dems, Libs, Socialists, call 'em what you will. They ALL have fairies livin' in their trees.))
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To: yarddog

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.


49 posted on 03/15/2015 7:26:38 PM PDT by publius911 (If you like Obamacare, You'll LOVE ObamaWeb.)
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To: yarddog

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.


50 posted on 03/15/2015 7:29:37 PM PDT by HANG THE EXPENSE (Life's tough.It's tougher when you're stupid.)
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To: EveningStar

We need new Generals. NOW!!!


51 posted on 03/15/2015 7:30:07 PM PDT by deweyfrank
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To: Unrepentant VN Vet

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


52 posted on 03/15/2015 7:30:09 PM PDT by huldah1776
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To: skimbell

How cute!
A pro-sodomy airplane thingy!


53 posted on 03/15/2015 7:38:25 PM PDT by publius911 (If you like Obamacare, You'll LOVE ObamaWeb.)
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To: yarddog
I worked with a guy who flew them in Vietnam.

The A-10 wasnt FOC Until 1978

54 posted on 03/15/2015 7:39:37 PM PDT by Half Vast Conspiracy (!)
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To: nascarnation

Thanks!

I spent FAR too many years in government contracting!

That decision tree applies almost everywhere!


55 posted on 03/15/2015 7:43:06 PM PDT by Taxman (I'M MAD AS HELL AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE!)
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To: Half Vast Conspiracy

We were talking about the A1 Skyraider.


56 posted on 03/15/2015 7:48:18 PM PDT by yarddog (Romans 8:38-39, For I am persuaded.)
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To: Rodamala

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!


57 posted on 03/15/2015 7:57:24 PM PDT by Taxman (I'M MAD AS HELL AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE!)
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To: DesertRhino

Does the F-5 come to mind?


58 posted on 03/15/2015 7:58:49 PM PDT by norton
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To: 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).

59 posted on 03/15/2015 8:07:04 PM PDT by norton
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To: HANG THE EXPENSE

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.


60 posted on 03/15/2015 8:07:56 PM PDT by Taxman (I'M MAD AS HELL AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE!)
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