Posted on Feb 22, 2015
A-10 vs. Taliban fighters shows why so many in the DoD want to keep it. How does this video impact your perception of the A-10?
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** Question for RP members: We see the A-10's awesome capabilities in this video clip. As some in the DoD are arguing that we should get rid of it, what other air assets could fill in well during this type of situation? Or is the A-10 the hands down best asset here? **
Survey options (vote below!):
(1) Yes, the A-10 is the perfect air asset for this type of situation.
(2) No, another air asset (explain) would have done just as well here.
//
So much has been debated recently about the A-10 and what role, if any, it deserves to play in our military. I decided to investigate the issue, and while doing so, I encountered this incredible footage of an A-10 turning the tide of a firefight vs. the Taliban. You don't want to miss this clip...let's just say you don't want to be on the receiving end of that "BRRRRRRRRRRRRT" sound.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llEWrL9ghyg
Survey options (vote below!):
(1) Yes, the A-10 is the perfect air asset for this type of situation.
(2) No, another air asset (explain) would have done just as well here.
//
So much has been debated recently about the A-10 and what role, if any, it deserves to play in our military. I decided to investigate the issue, and while doing so, I encountered this incredible footage of an A-10 turning the tide of a firefight vs. the Taliban. You don't want to miss this clip...let's just say you don't want to be on the receiving end of that "BRRRRRRRRRRRRT" sound.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llEWrL9ghyg
Strategy
Tactics
Aviation
A-10
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 151
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The A-10 has been the source of "keep or drop" for decades. It has proven its worth time and time again. I think the Army (& Marines) ground forces love it... The Air Force not so much. The Air Force is fixated with bombers and air superiority fighters... Close Air Support and Transport, not so much. If you have even been on the ground when A-10s are in support, or Apaches too... You will never forget it and secure feeling you have. I never believed the F-16 could do the same thing (their cover story during OIF), and who knows what they have in mind now. Just having them (A-10s or Apaches) loitering in the area, make you feel better.
I am clearly not Air Force, but I can remember from more than one place, time, or school, when the Air Force has tried the Curtis LeMay idea that can win it all by themselves... We have ample contemporary examples that don't support that idea.
Ground forces have to go in eventually to affect change, and have to stay.... Close Air Support is a must have. When was the last time we needed an air superiority fighter?
Anyway... If I was in charge, first I would put the Air Force back in the Army, and second I would keep the A-10 until we had a specifically designed close air support replacement... not just this plane can do the same thing if necessary.
I am clearly not Air Force, but I can remember from more than one place, time, or school, when the Air Force has tried the Curtis LeMay idea that can win it all by themselves... We have ample contemporary examples that don't support that idea.
Ground forces have to go in eventually to affect change, and have to stay.... Close Air Support is a must have. When was the last time we needed an air superiority fighter?
Anyway... If I was in charge, first I would put the Air Force back in the Army, and second I would keep the A-10 until we had a specifically designed close air support replacement... not just this plane can do the same thing if necessary.
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SPC Dale Hutson
back when I was in the 10th mountain div. being a light unit it was always nice knowing they were around if needed. I think it would be bad to try and replace them with a chopper or other plane
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MSG (Join to see)
I like having the A10 up there, its a hard to beat platform for close air support and it's already in place, much cheaper to employ and maintain than spending billions on something not as effective.
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CPO Ronald Saltzman
Precision munitions are good but there's nothing that can replace the amount of lead an A-10 can put on a position! The F-35 is a joke. The Navy bought that bird with one engine none-the-less under political pressure! The A-6 Intruder could and would be a better attack platform that the F-35 will be electronics aside.
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COL Charles Williams
Chuck Norris weighs in on A-10 debate
As the Air Force tries to kill the A-10 Warthog, it may have just run up against a force it cannot defeat: Chuck Norris. Norris, the martial artist,
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We really need to keep the A-10 if the Air Force does not want to keep it then give it to the Army and let us fly it, put it in the Air Cav...
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LTC Paul Labrador
Then comes the quandry is the AF going to risk it's ludicrously expensive F-35 in the very dangerous CAS environment where birds are expected to take hits. Stealth does not help you when your opponent can detect and target you with the standard Mk I Eyeball.
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LT Steve Zachary
It's simple...It's about money!!! Do we really think that the multi-million (scratch that) billion dollar companies are going to say anything positive about an old work horse like the wart-hog? I doubt it... Anyway, back in my Air force days a crew chief... I saw the difference between what an F-4, F-16 and an A-10 could do when it came to an Airborne practice 'dart' and frankly I'd rather have the A-10 protecting my 'hind parts' any day!
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Sgt Colin Archipley
Your unit costs are in-part, incomplete. Yes, the A-10 costs significantly less on an annual bases then the F-35, as you point out, but the F-35 is supposed to replace all other direct action air craft. Meaning currently, we have A-10's, F-16's, and more, the argument is elemental all the other air craft and only have the F-35, and that is where the savings are. Not sure that is how it will work in real time, but I have been support by A-10's, and they're great, but so are attack helicopters and C-130 gunships. Ground units appreciate the A-10 because of their experience, politicians like the A-10 because they use defense spending as a jobs bill in their district, and don't want to loss those jobs, it makes it difficult to read in-between the lines as to whether or not the F-35 is a replace all its supposed to be.
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LTC (Join to see)
A-10 pilots honored for mission that saved Marines
The day started slow for the A-10 pilots, using their legendary attack aircraft to provide some intelligence over targets in Afghanistan. Capt.
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No other aircraft can preform the close air support function that the
A-10 can and does. Sure it's old but it is the one of the infantry's best support vehicles, I would take an A-10 over artillery any day of the week. It's called danger close for a reason.
A-10 can and does. Sure it's old but it is the one of the infantry's best support vehicles, I would take an A-10 over artillery any day of the week. It's called danger close for a reason.
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Col Joseph Lenertz
Yes, keeping the AC-130s reserved solely for SOF is a problem DoD needs to fix. I have no issue with prioritizing them for SOF, as long as they can be used for regular forces when they'd otherwise be sitting on the ground...which they do today.
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MAJ James Cartwright
The Ac-130, while an awesome weapon system could not stand up to modern Anti-Aircraft system and that was proved out during Operation Desert Storm. The A-10 could take battle damage and keep on flying when an AC-130 would be blown out of the sky at the altitudes that an A-10 operates at.
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SrA Matt Phillips
The AC-130 is limited to night ops due to the fact that it is easily targetable and hence why it used almost exclusively in conjunction with SOF. Both airframes are very important assets with slightly different capabilities and missions. The A-10 has the speed and maneuverability to fly daytime ops.
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