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I've mentioned it before, but it bears repeating: JTACs love to control the A-10, in part because the pilots are good at CAS, and the aircraft is optimized for the mission. But in a firefight they'll take anything that gets there right now.
Our new Joint Forces HQ director is an ex-Hog driver and speaks Army. We absolutely love him
Look, it all comes down to dollars and sense. The A-10 was good, and is still good, for CAS, and it's paid for. Does it make sense to send a $100M F-35 in to do a job an $18M A-10 can do? Although the defense budget is huge, resources are finite, current priorities are in the advanced weapons arena to counter growing sophistication by potential adversaries. I think the situation for threats and budgets are dynamic, so we're seeing those decisions being made in action.
At this point, is the A-10 still a useful design? Useful enough to be worth retaining the existing aircraft?
For many worldwide locations, with minimal threats, it excels. North Korea? Iran? No way. As long as the US maintains a presence in places like Iraq or Afghanistan, it is viable.
the A-29 seems like a nifty aircraft, but it is a lightweight compared to the A-10.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MidValleyDad
For most support missions the A-10 is currently tasked with the 30mm gun is probably overkill. A 20mm with more ammunition would probably be more appropriate. But the 30mm is integral in the design and would be expensive to replace. The big problem with the A-10 is also one of its biggest feature - Speed (or lack thereof) The big complaint I have heard with the A-10 is that it takes so long to get to the target area. If it isn't already on site when needed it can't 'hurry up' like an F-16 or F-18 can.
part of the load out for the A-10 can include the aden 20mm cannon pod. that is a very effective weapon for CAS. and the A-10 has enough hard points to mount up to six of them if you are so inclined, and you can still have a few maverick missiles as well.
the A-29 seems like a nifty aircraft, but it is a lightweight compared to the A-10.
part of the load out for the A-10 can include the aden 20mm cannon pod. that is a very effective weapon for CAS. and the A-10 has enough hard points to mount up to six of them if you are so inclined, and you can still have a few maverick missiles as well.
Why would anyone want to have a pop-gun like the 20mm with the 30mm available? I have hit targets with the 30mm way outside of 3 nautical miles; with the 20mm, even with the new PGU-27 ammo, the bullets start to tumble at half that. Good suppression weapon but ineffective against anything with armor. Better to load up with PGMs, especially GBU-10s, a real crowd-pleaser.
Why would anyone want to have a pop-gun like the 20mm with the 30mm available? I have hit targets with the 30mm way outside of 3 nautical miles; with the 20mm, even with the new PGU-27 ammo, the bullets start to tumble at half that. Good suppression weapon but ineffective against anything with armor. Better to load up with PGMs, especially GBU-10s, a real crowd-pleaser.
why waste 30mm or a $1,000,000 missile against soft targets? 20mm works nicely as anti personal weapons, especially if you are shooting up a a flight line full of people and aircraft. save the 30mm for tanks and other heavily armored targets.
Look, it all comes down to dollars and sense. The A-10 was good, and is still good, for CAS, and it's paid for. Does it make sense to send a $100M F-35 in to do a job an $18M A-10 can do?
Well, yes it does. F-35 (or F-16) can do multiple roles so you're buying a ****-ton of them anyway, why wouldn't you use them for CAS as well? CAS is a mission (not a platform) and the overwhelming majority of it is just dropping JDAMs and Paveways, it doesn't matter if it is from a A-10 or a B-1.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rbohm
part of the load out for the A-10 can include the aden 20mm cannon pod. that is a very effective weapon for CAS. and the A-10 has enough hard points to mount up to six of them if you are so inclined, and you can still have a few maverick missiles as well.
Why on earth would you mount a 20mm pod on an A-10 when you have the main 30mm gun built into the aircraft with more range, accuracy, and punch? If you need additional soft target kill or suppression you add a rocket pod, not another gun.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rbohm
why waste 30mm or a $1,000,000 missile against soft targets? 20mm works nicely as anti personal weapons, especially if you are shooting up a a flight line full of people and aircraft. save the 30mm for tanks and other heavily armored targets.
What $1,000,000 missile are you talking about? A-10 doesn't carry big expensive cruise missiles, and the 30mm can do everything a 20mm gun can do, except better.
If you're attacking an air base most of their aircraft will probably be sheltered anyway your best plan would be a high altitude pass of F-16/F-15E/F-35/B-1 dropping SDBs onto the GPS coordinates of each aircraft shelter, fuel depot, sensor equipment, C&C, etc. not exposing an A-10 to ground fire by having it do strafing runs. Who gives a **** about the people they can be replaced, you wreck their planes those people have nothing to do anyway.
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