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 ...
7. Mission
Post 79 for my take.
I discuss speed. . .among other aspects.
You go into an A-10 squadron and tell every Hog Driver there that he is NOT a fighter pilot. . .see how long you can last against the “Hog Sweep” that will be charging your way. . .
;-)
Might be good as an export ground attack aircraft to smaller countries but I can see this aircraft meeting the US Army’s needs.
This is an important element, and I need to think about that for a bit.
Mission is vitally important for those at the tip of the spear.
Given that government at the macro level generally screws up in spectacular fashion, I’m somewhat reluctant to include “mission” as a vital part of the decision making process.
Consider this: the “mission” of the poobahs might be entirely different than the “mission” of the operators; e.g., awarding contracts to favored businesses might result in some severe compromises that the operators have to make do with.
I am reminded that the airplanes I flew while in the Navy and Navy Reserves were built by the lowest bidder! We used to joke about it.
Just sayin’ mind you. Still thinking about it.
LOL!
There is no “War on Women!”
It is a figment of the LIEberal imagination, designed to enrich the fortunes of those who are playing in that particular sandbox.
USAF “fast mover” poobahs have been trying to get rid of the A-10 pretty much since it came on line. Had Saddam not gone to war, the A-10 would probably be in mothballs.
Truth to tell, USAF should probably resurrect the the A-10 production line, with current technology improvements. It is one hellofanairplane and, IMHO, there is far less need for “fast movers” in the kinds of conflicts we are seeing today than for a true close air suporrt air-to-mud gunfighter/bomber.
Though I have never had the opportunity to ask an infantry soldier or Marine the question, I’d wager they’d love to see more Warthogs flying top cover for them!
So why can’t we have both?
Unfortunately..., FAR TOO MANY! Compare the number of Flag Rank officers that conducted WWII to the number today, then see the total staffing then to that of today!
President Eisenhower was RIGHT ON when he warned of the Military Industrial Complex 60+ years ago!!!
We have three different air forces.. AND....
Rogue Chiefs of Staff that manipulate them ALL...
AND guys behind the guys behind the guys...-—>> etc..
Could be the entire federal givernment is A DUMMY givernment.. and several State givernments(or more)..
and a boatload of local givernments..
Animal Farm(the Book) may indeed be reality..
http://msxnet.org/orwell/print/animal_farm.pdf
One last question: does anyone know why this article or ones very similar, get posted every month or so?
Oldplayer
All the talk about the Scorpion, or the Super Texan or the Super Tucano is just bait and switchb tactics designed to allow the USAF to kill the Hog with a vaporware “replacement” that dies shortly afterwards.
The USAF knows this territory well. In the late 80s and early 90s they sold the Congress on killing the SR-71 because a faster, stealthier replacement was immanent. SR-71 is retired and the “replacement” turns out to have been slideware fantasy.
Sheets Byrd was so phenominally ticked over how brazenly the USAF had lied to him and the Congress that he forced them to restart the Blackbird program a few years later. It was ultimately killed (again, and finally) during the brief window when Clinton had a line item veto.
I guess it’s a popular topic. :)
You seem to have missed the word “generals” in my original post. You think there are many Hog drivers among them? I sure don’t. Might be a few, but I’d like to see such a thing happening as you describe. The Warthog is, in case you missed the clues, my favorite MODERN aircraft. Not much good air-to-air, but even as a USAF veteran myself, I know that the thing that wins wars is a young man with a rifle in his hands taking and occupying ground. All else is support for that young man. Fighter pilots, finance officers, or SATCOM techs, we don’t win the wars, those kids do. And that is a lesson most Air Force officers have not learned.
Old Student
William R. Meyers, MSgt, USAF(Ret.)
I wonder why Motley Fool keeps pushing it. Stock trading activity?
Tyson
Probably.
Thanks Hulka. I always love hearing good info about the A-10!
So, I guess I was confused when you said generals are fighter pilots and Hog Drivers are not viewed by the “generals” as such. I pointed out Hog Drivers are fighter pilots, and considered so by the fighter world/generals.
As you are no doubt aware, in the Air Force there are fighters and targets, and the A-10 is a fighter. (”Attack” pilots are a Navy thing. For the Air Force “attack” is a type of mission, not a type of pilot).
“You think there are many Hog drivers among them?[generals])
Yes, there sure are plenty of them. Would like to see more.
The Hog has been around for a long time, and Hog Drivers are promoted, even to flag rank. So, yes, there are many generals that were Hog Drivers.
“The Warthog is, in case you missed the clues, my favorite MODERN aircraft.”
Mine too, after all, I flew the Hog and even called in air-strikes as a ground ALO during Gulf War I.
“Not much good air-to-air, “
Depends on what scenario you are talking about. A/A at altitude, per-merge with BVR allowed. . .not so much. Close-in A/A in the weeds, turning fight, nothing can beat it.
Like I said, it depends, but at any rate, no one likes to get down low and turn with a Hog, the thing is, you both get dirty but the Hog luvs it. I have “killed” many “highly maneuverable” F-16’s and F-15’s and F-18’s in Low Fly 7 in Germany.
“Fighter pilots [we just covered that above], finance officers, or SATCOM techs, we don’t win the wars, those kids do.”
Gulf War I was the first time in aviation history that when facing a large conventional force, aviation was the primary fire with ground forces providing essential support. Not all war/conflicts work that way, of course, but because of the Gulf War I environment, the precise weapons we had, targeting intel and control and such, air-power hit with a punch never before seen. And the ground guys appreciated the Hog and its support, and wanted to see more of it, and the A/A guys, they keep the bad guy air force from attacking US troops on the ground. Team effort.
Point is, all trigger pullers win wars, not just those on the ground.
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