So true. I don't think there's anything out there that does close air support better- especially at that price. If there is I haven't seen it.

The Air Force Spares The A-10 Warthog From Slaughter, Decides To Kill It Slowly Instead

Seems it will remain in service until 2022

The GAU is a big gun, and it is not cheap to shoot, but it is cheaper by far than guided missiles. For that reason alone, some version of GAU totin' airplane will exist - be it the A-10 or an A-10 rehash.

There are a LOT of A-29s being completed and shipped overseas. Member states see the value of a single turbo prop aircraft in both acquisition cost and operational cost. These make very good CAS aircraft, like the good ol' Sandy, but it is not the bullet-flinging gun platform that the A-10 is.

Drones will continue to be an increasing presence on the battlefield, but they are limited in their useful loading. I don't see them going out to defend against columns of armor.

The Beechcraft (Pilatus) AT-6? ROFL. It can't take the abuse of a CAS role. It just barely manages to be a trainer.

The Textron Scorpion.... One prototype built three years ago, and zero traction since then.

https://i.imgflip.com/u2rf0.jpg

http://www.fairfaxunderground.com/fo...10_warthog.jpg

The GAU produces 9000lbs recoil thrust and tends to bend weapons pylons so the airframe will have to be build around it again or dropped into a Super AC-130.

Turboprops have that loiter capability and I think would do well in uncontested airspace. Then again, a B-52 with PGM would do well in uncontested airspace and can carry an additional 20 2000# JDAMS with the new rotary launcher in the bay in addition to what they could carry on wing pylons.

Honestly I don't see battles with columns of armor like WWII and if we do, the battle of 73 Eastings would be a good reminder to the enemy why they shouldn't try conventional tank warfare with us.

A10 Warthog
 

A very effective ground support warplane. Apears to be designed for function first, form was secondary. We used to see them often doing practice runs above I94 in Wisconsin on Friday afternoons when heading out to SCCA race events in the early 90's. DP

Turns out, with big enough engines, a pig will fly
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1471474824.jpg

I thought the A10 was just another outdated aircraft with a bunch of nostalgic old people complaining about it going away until I saw this:
<iframe width="649" height="390" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rEdy84YGf1k" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Watch it! 6 minutes of facts that will totally change your mind.

And that hog will throw some serious bacon.

hakuna matata in your face!

Interesting the similarities of two planes that were built like flying tanks, produced decades before, were popular with pilots and those on the ground and had long service lives.http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1471476061.jpg

Since it is a close air support aircraft, why not turn it over to the Army? It is really for their benefit. Bring back the "Army Air Corp"!

Great video Joe, thank you.

The Northrop A-9. The A-10 competitor during the fly off (Northrop lost, of course).http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1471478887.jpg

Agree.

I checked the knots vs mph conversion and 200 knots is 230mph ground speed w/o wind (from what I read)

Space shuttle landed at just over 200 mph. Slow, as the speaker stressed to protect effectively.

not if you swarm...

I have never heard the story of how the A-10 got the 30 mm cannon. Great video! 20 meter accuracy. I can't imagine seeing the enemy turned into flying pink mist 20 meters away.

Missiles can't fire that close or react as quickly, nor operate with that much discretion.

Who is the swarm director when only a 20 meter buffer is required ASAP?

I don't care how ungainly close air support aircraft may look with their bumps, pods, protruberences etc.
They turn into a thing of beauty when they show up and turn things all around for you.
And ones that can stick around a bit are all the better.

I can only imagine how appreciated the A 10 was on the ground in the desert wars, where it and other forces could all but clear the field of armored resistance!

Cheers Richard

Basically, I don't understand two things.

First, is the A10 no longer capable of the ground support role?. If it is still capable, are the existing A10s too old to keep using? If they are, why isn't rebuilding them the most cost effective solution? If they are beyond rebuilding, why isn't making new A10s the next most cost effective solution? After all, developing a new plane will be very expensive and if the A10 works, why develop a new plane?

Second, why are attack helicopters not well suited to ground support? They can carry anti tank missiles for armor, guns for soft targets. They can loiter, operate at low altitude, operate from primitive bases, fire accurately. They are relatively inexpensive. They are not fast but neither is the A10.