I was really surprised when my roommate Ben told me that the new F-35 Lightning is slated to replace both the F-16 and the A-10. That seems like a tough spread to cover--how can you be nimble enough to dogfight and still be as tough as the A-10? Apparently the answer is that you shouldn't have to BE as tough as the A-10 if you stay out of range. Here's an interesting comment from some guy named E.L.P.: http://www.f-16.net/f-16_forum_viewtopic-t-1703.html
This shed some light on that John Ringo op-ed a while ago that talked about killing off the A-10 in favor of high-altitude precision-bombing: this E.L.P. guy is worried about 1.) response time, and 2.) "trashfire." Much as we love the A-10, maybe letting go really is a good idea. Still, I'd like to hear more views from the other side of this issue. I'll keep you posted if I learn more.
~B.C.
-- "The presentation or 'gift' of the Holy Ghost simply confers upon a man the right to receive at any time, when he is worthy of it and desires it, the power and light of truth of the Holy Ghost, although he may often be left to his own spirit and judgment." --Joseph F. Smith (manual, p. 69)
Be pretty if you are, Be witty if you can, But be cheerful if it kills you.
1 comment:
Seriously? No responses? Ok, its about time you got one. This is a short and simple one.
The A-10 is pretty much one of THE BEST COIN and close air support aircraft you can get nowadays. What does COIN and CAS mean? It means you don't get the option of flying far, far away from the combat zone where your troops are, just because your planes all run and no fight. No. Close air support means I'm right the hell top on top of them if my boys need it, and right the hell now. Your giving them eyes in the sky, your dropping bombs on a dime, your laying down what ever suppressive fire you can, you tell them whats over that wall, and you do it now or else people start dying because you can't take the heat.
A-10s doesn't just have bigger bombs. It has more bombs, more missiles, more armor, slower (Thats desired in CAS and COIN scenarios), more fuel, and is probably cheaper too considering the material differences. Probably loiters l
F-35 is nice and all, but it will NOT replace the A-10 in its biggest and most useful niche. Bombing tanks is hardly all an A-10 does, especially not in the wars we're fighting. A-10's take less runway then some turboprops
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