So how will the F-35 survive? If you put more than 2 bombs on it, it is not longer stealth.

And the B and C models don't have guns, so need to carry a gun pod, again, kills the stealth.

And finally, when was the last "modern" air battlefield?

The point is, the -35 will drop those two bombs, hit the target, and come back later in the day and do it again against Russia or China. Certainly losses will happen, but it is capable of surviving in those conditions. It can do that over the front lines or 200 miles behind enemy lines. The A-10 won’t survive in those circumstances.

Regardless of when the last modern war was fought, we do need to be capable of fighting and winning one. That’s the best way to avoid one.

Now, if we have the budget to keep 100 A-10’s in service to hold down yak herders and conduct mop-up operations, great. But that isn’t the first priority.

Regardless of anyone’s opinion about CAS, the die has already been cast. The current purchase plan for the F-35 includes 1:1 replacements for all F-16s, A-10s, and F-15C/Ds. Not sure about the F-15Es.

I had read that they were replacing old F-15s with new F-15EXs. Did I misread?

I had read that they were replacing old F-15s with new F-15EXs. Did I misread?

A good friend of mine is the lead test guy on the F-15EX, they just had a new contract. Initial buy is up to 66 jets right now. Hoping for 144 (which would replace the C/D fleet as it stands now).

A good friend of mine is the lead test guy on the F-15EX, they just had a new contract. Initial buy is up to 66 jets right now. Hoping for 144 (which would replace the C/D fleet as it stands now).

Does anyone else think that it might be a good idea that we start building underground military production facilities?

A good friend of mine is the lead test guy on the F-15EX, they just had a new contract. Initial buy is up to 66 jets right now. Hoping for 144 (which would replace the C/D fleet as it stands now).

Probably not. Modern weapons have such a long lead time, what you need for the next war had better be sitting in a warehouse. If you have to build it (other than "simple" stuff like bullets or shells), the war is gonna be over before whatever you need comes off the production line.

The F-117 was downed by clever use of SA-3's, aided by complacency on the part of the US. Eyeballs had nothing to do with it.

As far as A-10's and ground pounders go. Again, a great platform in Afghanistan. Not so much against a modern opponent. We lost 6 of them in Desert Storm with another 20 damaged, despite absolutely dominating the airspace vs a 3rd tier opponent. I don't think 30 years of improved anti-air defenses will improve those odds. Modern air defenses are just too good. The current war in Ukraine kind of confirms that. Nether side is mounting much of an air campaign because the environment is just too dangerous.

And so the F-35 wouldn't survive either?

As I said before, we have had lots of conflicts where the A-10 was great. Not all conflicts are high threat with state of the art air defenses.

The F-35 is one answer to one question, not all answers to all questions. And crazy expensive to buy and fly.

Last I say, they were working on getting the F-35 cost down to $35,000 per flight hour. Versus $6000 for the A-10.

My tax payer side says the A-10 is still a useful, cost effective platform.

No, I’m thoroughly enjoying my first retirement!

And so the F-35 wouldn't survive either?

As I said before, we have had lots of conflicts where the A-10 was great. Not all conflicts are high threat with state of the art air defenses.

The F-35 is one answer to one question, not all answers to all questions. And crazy expensive to buy and fly.

Last I say, they were working on getting the F-35 cost down to $35,000 per flight hour. Versus $6000 for the A-10.

My tax payer side says the A-10 is still a useful, cost effective platform.

to get the most airpower to protect our ground troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, almost every attack aircraft in the US inventory — the F-15E, F-16, F-18, AH-64, AC-130, RPAs, B-52s and even the B-1B — become close air support assets. Their aircrews received extensive training in the challenging tactics, techniques and procedures demanded by the role of bombing or shooting the enemy as they closed with American troops.

Advancements in technology; changes in training; and updates to CAS procedures were needed. Capabilities such as Global Positioning System (GPS), Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM), targeting pods (e.g., SNIPER and LANTIRN), and satellite communications gave these aircraft the precision to conduct CAS.

B-1s really do CAS!

https://breakingdefense.com/2014/05/sen ... ly-do-cas/