Posted on Mar 1, 2018
The F-35 may be heading into its faceoff with the A-10 this April
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This will depend a lot on the scenario(s) DOT&E get approved for the faceoff. I think any true CAS action (low altitude, limited target acquisition time, close proximity to friendly troops on ground) will show the A-10 to be superior. Human reaction times have not changed, and the slower airspeed and tighter radius of the A-10 gives the pilot what he needs to acquire, confirm, and kill the target. The GAU doesn't hurt either.
The F-35 may be heading into its faceoff with the A-10 this April
Posted from defensenews.com
A-10
A-10 Pilot
F-35
Close Air Support (CAS)
Posted 6 y ago
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I agree with you, Col Joseph Lenertz. Hands down the slower loiter time will win out. A-10 all the way. The GAU-22 isn't anything I would underestimate though. No, not in the same weight class as the GAU-8, but it puts the M-61 20mm to shame. Check some of the tests out. I've never seen it in action like I have the A-10, but the gun is pretty impressive.
Thanks for the post, Sir.
Thanks for the post, Sir.
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Interesting article.
I'm not a fan of the F35 in practice, but I do like it in concept. It reduces the number of "platforms" we are dealing with, meaning that we can drop pilot in plane and go. The A10 does not conform to that concept.
From the article:
“Just like every other fourth- or four-plus generation fighter, [the A-10] would not likely survive a single mission flown against the anti-access/area denial threats of today. That is where the F-35 was designed to operate,”
This is a telling point. There is an assumption that the A10 (or its replacement) will need to operate in a specific environment type (above the regional skirmishes we operate now). From that perspective, the A10 is obsolete because it cannot be used "at the beginning" of operations.
Unfortunately, the F35 cannot be used for the A10s stated goal creating a direct conflict. The F35 is NOT a (Attack) CAS bird. It just isn't. But the A10 is also not a Fighter.
Assuming that we have an unlimited budget (which is how the R&D on the F35 seems to apply), what resources are we lacking that the F35 fixes? Pilots. Specialization of Pilots creates an inherent challenge in our system. If we are dedicating X% of our total pilots to a singular airframe, we have a problem.
https://www.defense.gov/News/Article/Article/1135200/congress-probes-military-pilot-shortage/
As we are already operating at a deficit, it becomes a huge problem.
That said, the F35 is an attempt to correct a symptom as opposed to the underlying cause (pilot shortage).
My off the cuff solution would be to offer Warrant Officer Commissions for Legacy/Specialty Aircraft, and Regular commissions for "multi-platform/multi-purpose" Aircraft.
I'm not a fan of the F35 in practice, but I do like it in concept. It reduces the number of "platforms" we are dealing with, meaning that we can drop pilot in plane and go. The A10 does not conform to that concept.
From the article:
“Just like every other fourth- or four-plus generation fighter, [the A-10] would not likely survive a single mission flown against the anti-access/area denial threats of today. That is where the F-35 was designed to operate,”
This is a telling point. There is an assumption that the A10 (or its replacement) will need to operate in a specific environment type (above the regional skirmishes we operate now). From that perspective, the A10 is obsolete because it cannot be used "at the beginning" of operations.
Unfortunately, the F35 cannot be used for the A10s stated goal creating a direct conflict. The F35 is NOT a (Attack) CAS bird. It just isn't. But the A10 is also not a Fighter.
Assuming that we have an unlimited budget (which is how the R&D on the F35 seems to apply), what resources are we lacking that the F35 fixes? Pilots. Specialization of Pilots creates an inherent challenge in our system. If we are dedicating X% of our total pilots to a singular airframe, we have a problem.
https://www.defense.gov/News/Article/Article/1135200/congress-probes-military-pilot-shortage/
As we are already operating at a deficit, it becomes a huge problem.
That said, the F35 is an attempt to correct a symptom as opposed to the underlying cause (pilot shortage).
My off the cuff solution would be to offer Warrant Officer Commissions for Legacy/Specialty Aircraft, and Regular commissions for "multi-platform/multi-purpose" Aircraft.
Congress Probes Military Pilot Shortage
Senior military officials told Congress a shortage of pilots across the U.S. military is most acute in the Air Force. This crisis is the result of multiple factors including high operational tempo and
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TSgt David L.
Battle-damaged 926th TFG A-10A Warthog Desert Storm
Col Bobby Efferson lands his battle-damaged A-10 at King Fahd AB.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BecNTYPYbU
I'm not sure thata the F-35 would stand up to the damage the A-10 can take. The titanium bath tub makes the pilot more survivable thatn any other air frame.
I'm not sure thata the F-35 would stand up to the damage the A-10 can take. The titanium bath tub makes the pilot more survivable thatn any other air frame.
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Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
TSgt David L. - Damage Avoidance (through speed) vs Damage Mitigation (through armor). Which has more suitability, an Infantry platoon or a Mobilized Unit (like LAVS)?
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TSgt David L.
Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS - I guess it depends on which end of it you happen to be on. If the F-35 can maintain the gun on the target for the same time the A-10 does then I guess speed might win. They have to start farther back and higher altitude because of the higher sped, so I guess we'll have to see. Waiting for the shoot off between the two personally.
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