Will the F-35 eclipse the A-10 in the new National Security Strategy?

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 07 Dec 2013 21:59:21 -0500

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Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 7 at 2013 10:13 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 07 Dec 2013 22:13:40 -0500

Not sure about that - but you'll never have an aircraft that was better designed for close ground support of the troops then the A-10 tank killers (My unit used to have A-10's), they always reminded me of the old WWII aircraft styling.

Response by SSG Laureano Pabon made Dec 7 at 2013 10:18 PM

SSG Laureano Pabon — Sat, 07 Dec 2013 22:18:22 -0500

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ksh

e7-BYfWc

F-35 - A Pilot's Perspective

See the Lightning II in action and hear three pilots describe what it's like to fly the F-35.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 7 at 2013 10:18 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 07 Dec 2013 22:18:35 -0500

As an Army guy I think the F-35 just shows how the USAF brass does not care about supporting the guy on the ground. Too bad ground support wasn't more "sexy" maybe we could get a slow aircraft that can actually see the guys on the ground and attack the enemy directly.

Love the A-10 by the way.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 7 at 2013 10:42 PM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 07 Dec 2013 22:42:26 -0500

Follow on question...Can the Unmanned Arial Vehicle fleet such as the predator help fill the gap?

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 7 at 2013 11:52 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 07 Dec 2013 23:52:46 -0500

The A-10 was an amazing aircraft. I briefed many of them from Sembach AB as well as F-4s, which were pretty reliable but very noisy.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 18 at 2013 12:48 AM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Dec 2013 00:48:40 -0500

CSAF had some very interesting perspectives on the A-10, F-35, and future Combat Search and rescue helicopter...Check it out

http://www.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/tabid/223/Article/467740/af-envisions-smaller-force-to-preserve-readiness.aspx

AF envisions smaller force to preserve readiness > U.S. Air Force > Article Display

Discussing upcoming budgetary variables during a Pentagon news conference today, the Air Force's top civilian leader for the past six months addressed the inevitability of a smaller force.,

Response by MSgt Aaron Brite made Jan 20 at 2014 9:46 PM

MSgt Aaron Brite — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 21:46:57 -0500

A-10 vs F-35 for CAS? I find it difficult to believe the a jet designed for speed and penetration in air to air combat would be as effective as the A-10. First the A-10 was designed to haul large amounts of ordnance and place it on target from close range. The F-35 does not carry as much nor as much variety. Most A-10 ordnance is dumb and cheap, which is fine from a low and slow platform knocking out many small positions. And it is plentiful with up to 11 hard points holding 11 bombs or rocket pods or other ordnance and sensors. The F-35's is fast and expensive which will cause howls of pain from the bean counters when a lot of it is expended in a small area to eliminate many small targets. But only up to 8 at a time. The F-35's cannon is smaller and carries a 10th the rounds. Armor anyone? The A-10 has it and was designed to take pot shots from the ground. Not so the F-35, who's skin is rated for stealth not rifle rounds.

With only a few aspects compared, the important ones I think, the A-10 wins hands down.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 21 at 2014 12:35 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 21 Jun 2014 12:35:05 -0400

I find it hard for any aircraft to out perform the a-10 in longevity as well as use. We spend billions on contracts and manufacturing to cancel manufacturing halfway through.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jun 21 at 2014 2:03 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sat, 21 Jun 2014 14:03:10 -0400

I'm a hopeless Romantic. I grew up not far from Air Force bases to include Richards Gebaur. I remember seeing the Warthog all the time. It is like family I will miss it when it is finally gone completely.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 13 at 2016 6:51 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 13 Mar 2016 18:51:15 -0400

THE as much thought in the F-35 as a CAS platform as they did in our existing and soon to be replaced BDU when the BDU of 1982-2007 should have been replaced by the mutlicam mandated now with a multicam to begin with!