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re: USAF plans to retire more A-10 Warthogs; “crippling” close air support capabilities
Posted on 3/19/24 at 6:06 pm to Boudreaux35
Posted on 3/19/24 at 6:06 pm to Boudreaux35
quote:
I understand that the current fleet is very aged, but can we not build more of these? Why are we insisting on replacing these ultimate fighting machines with less reliable planes?
Biden admin couldn’t care less about strengthening our military. They sure as hell don’t care about ground support.
Is Fairchild still in business?
Posted on 3/19/24 at 6:06 pm to HeadSlash
quote:
They could wipe out chinese human wave attacks, so potato head doesn't want that.
IME if I am up against meatbags and/or thin skinned technicals I want my CAS coming from rotorheads vs fast movers. Armor is a different story but my experience with armor engagements is limited.
The battlespace is ever changing and the A-10 has probably seen its day being a highly effective and high survivability CAS platform. Drone/anti-drone warfare is the next chapter.
Posted on 3/19/24 at 6:13 pm to WestCoastAg
quote:
which is ironic since it's been involved in more friendly fire incidents than like any modern aircraft
This is one of the reasons I preferred helicopter CAS to A-10 CAS. Hell, I have locked eyes with the front seater in a chopper and directed fire with my hands when coms were iffy.
Posted on 3/19/24 at 6:32 pm to Obtuse1
quote:
This is one of the reasons I preferred helicopter CAS to A-10 CAS. Hell, I have locked eyes with the front seater in a chopper and directed fire with my hands when coms were iffy.
Iraq is not the same as a European battlefield.
This post was edited on 3/19/24 at 6:33 pm
Posted on 3/19/24 at 6:51 pm to HenryParsons
I completely disagree with retiring these planes. bullshite they're too expensive to maintain.
Ukraine ought to be too expensive to maintain, same with every other shithole country we've given billions of dollars to.
Ukraine ought to be too expensive to maintain, same with every other shithole country we've given billions of dollars to.
Posted on 3/19/24 at 7:24 pm to Tempratt
quote:
Is Fairchild still in business?
Lol not since 1987.
Posted on 3/19/24 at 7:31 pm to HenryParsons
quote:Sell them to Texas.
A portion of these should be reallocated to the Coast Guard for counter-trafficking operations.
Posted on 3/19/24 at 7:49 pm to Boudreaux35
quote:
Why are we insisting on replacing these ultimate fighting machines with less reliable planes?
A-10s have never lived up to their billing
Posted on 3/19/24 at 7:53 pm to rmnldr
A crop duster with some guns and bombs would be just as effective and much cheaper
Posted on 3/19/24 at 8:06 pm to HenryParsons
The DoD is always preparing for the next war(for better or for worse, different discussion.). The A-10 has been very relevant in the GWOT environment.
Regardless of its relevance in previous fights the pentagon recognizes its deficiencies on a modern battlefield. The A-10 is incredibly vulnerable to more modern manpads that our previous adversaries didn’t possess. Not to mention air to air threats, threats it didn’t face in Afghanistan and Iraq. All that said, the DoD thinks the warthog has a low survivability rate on the modern battlefield.
FWIW, I disagree and think it’s a valuable platform and retiring them is short sighted. They’ll need top cover to effectively do their job against near peer threats, but I don’t think we have anything that can do their job as effectively.
Regardless of its relevance in previous fights the pentagon recognizes its deficiencies on a modern battlefield. The A-10 is incredibly vulnerable to more modern manpads that our previous adversaries didn’t possess. Not to mention air to air threats, threats it didn’t face in Afghanistan and Iraq. All that said, the DoD thinks the warthog has a low survivability rate on the modern battlefield.
FWIW, I disagree and think it’s a valuable platform and retiring them is short sighted. They’ll need top cover to effectively do their job against near peer threats, but I don’t think we have anything that can do their job as effectively.
Posted on 3/19/24 at 8:18 pm to Obtuse1
quote:
This is one of the reasons I preferred helicopter CAS to A-10 CAS.
When I was in Afghanistan in 2010 we did a study on CIVCAS (civilian casualties) caused by fires from the air. Over two thirds of those were from Army helos. They also were responsible for more fratricide incidents. However, fixed wing accounted for more fratricide deaths due to the number involving large bombs (i.e. 2,000 lb JDAMs) versus rockets/Hellfires/machine guns from the helos.
Posted on 3/19/24 at 8:20 pm to Tempratt
quote:
is Fairchild still in business?
As in Fairchild AFB in WA? Yes, it is a tanker base.
Posted on 3/19/24 at 8:31 pm to rmnldr
quote:
A-10s have never lived up to their billing
Yeah, there are several YouTube videos that go into detail about how overrated the system is. From how inaccurate the gun is to those big arse 30mm rounds not being able to penetrate the front armor of Soviet tanks as old as something like a T32. Even when they did hit and generate, the survivability inside the tanks was really high.
I'm a fan of the A10, but it seems it has been built up a reputation it hasn't really earned.
This post was edited on 3/19/24 at 8:32 pm
Posted on 3/19/24 at 9:09 pm to HenryParsons
When I was a young warthog...
Posted on 3/19/24 at 9:12 pm to GeauxxxTigers23
quote:
crop duster with some guns and bombs would be just as effective and much cheaper
I know you would have better insite than me and I'm genuinely curious - what battlefield was the A10 designed for? Stopping the Russians from going west?
Posted on 3/19/24 at 9:24 pm to Porpus
quote:
I don't trust the DoD to make such predictions
I am glad that after the F-35 JSF debacle they are having separate programs for NGAD and FA-XX
Posted on 3/20/24 at 8:12 am to HenryParsons
quote:
Rose Riley, a Department of the Air Force spokeswoman, told Military.com last year that the service plans to shrink the Tactical Air Control Party, or TACP, job field to about 2,130 positions -- a decrease of 44%, according to the service. The Air Force said the manning is now "roughly" 3,700 airmen.
Other than the Warthogs, the AF sucks at CAS. Navy or Marine fixed wing is the way to go if calling in fast movers. In reality this won’t impact force posture except for the Army who relies on AF TACP.
Posted on 3/20/24 at 2:38 pm to FlyingTiger06
quote:
in Fairchild AFB in WA? Yes, it is a tanker base.
How was referring to the manufacturer of the A-10?
Posted on 3/20/24 at 2:50 pm to jcaz
Was just announced today that 2024 will be the last show season for the A-10C Demo Team. Damn it’s really happening.
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