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The US Air Force has kicked off the procurement for another round of wing replacements for A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft, known affectionately by many as the Warthog. With new wings, the A-10s will help fill a gap left by the delayed volume delivery of F-35A fighters, which were intended to take over the A-10's close air support (CAS) role in "contested environments"—places where enemy aircraft or modern air defenses would pose a threat to supporting aircraft. For now, the A-10 is being used largely in uncontested environments, where the greatest danger pilots face is small arms fire or possibly a Stinger-like man-portable air defense system (MANPADS) missile. But the Warthog is also being deployed to Eastern Europe as part of the NATO show of strength in response to Russia.
While the A-10 will keep flying through 2025 under current plans, Air Force leadership has perceived (or was perhaps convinced to see) a need for an aircraft that could take over the A-10's role in low-intensity and uncontested environments—something relatively inexpensive and easy to maintain that could be flown from relatively unimproved airfields to conduct armed reconnaissance, interdiction, and close air support missions. The replacement would also double as advanced trainer aircraft for performing weapons qualifications and keeping pilots' flight-time numbers up.
So, last year the Air Force kicked off the Light Attack Experiment (OA-X), a four-aircraft competition to determine what would best fit that bill.
(Score: 2) by aim on Wednesday June 20 2018, @08:44AM (10 children)
Looking at Wikipedia [wikipedia.org], it looks like the contestants are all re-purposed trainers and light recon planes - even a crop duster (Dusty Crophopper from Planes!), for $DEITY sake! None of these were designed for the purpose at hand, namely loitering over a small-arms infected territory, being able to take the hits, and unloading lots of ammo on the ennemy - lesson supposed to have been learned in Vietnam (where the role was fulfilled mostly by the A-1 Skyraider, and maybe some by the A-4 Skyhawk). Cancel this Air Force program, and let the Army themselves get what they actually need.
On the other hand, with the US management (i.e. current administration) going down the drain, better they go on like this. At some point, the rest of the world may have to forcibly adjust their loser attitude.
(Score: 2) by driverless on Wednesday June 20 2018, @09:15AM (2 children)
What about a Shturmovik? That seems to fit their requirements exactly, and it already has a proven track record.
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Wednesday June 20 2018, @12:04PM (1 child)
We're headed there... every major wargame simulation that includes economic considerations finds that a massive number of cheap fighting assets easily overwhelms an equivalently budgeted force of more sophisticated fighting assets. All the cheap force needs is enough "boom" to take out the expensive side's armor, and "big boom" is cheap, incredibly cheap if you've got nuclear boom.
With unmanned fighting vehicles now practical, why not send 10 cheap drones instead of 1 stronger vehicle filled with people?
🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 2) by frojack on Wednesday June 20 2018, @07:26PM
Exactly.
I can easily envision turning whichever of these planes wins the competition into a drone, "manned" remotely.
Get them cheap enough that you don't break the bank when some get shot down, and put the pilots in a cargo container (or E-8C JSTARS) somewhere near enough that you don't need that much of a CNC network.
There are already hints of this repurposeing of E-8Cs [defensenews.com] in the press ahead of (of just after) their scheduled replacement in 2024.
E-8Cs are not seen to be survivable in contested airspace (any where in europe) these days. But for places like the Middle East, you could remotely fly 5 or 8 small hard hitting ground attack aircraft from just over the horizon.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Wednesday June 20 2018, @11:54AM (1 child)
What they actually need is a drone, probably a drone just robust enough to carry a few gatling guns like puff [wikipedia.org] and take a few hits.
🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 2) by frojack on Wednesday June 20 2018, @07:42PM
Drones, yes.
But A10s are predominantly tank buster, and their gatling guns are mostly shooting armor piercing rounds, at light armored vehicles or pickup trucks.
Nobody is expecting these to be used against massed ground troops.
When ISIS was on the prowl (and Obama letting them run wild), that was as close to massed ground troops as you are likely to see.
Especially after the Highway of Death, [jalopnik.com] nobody with a lick of sense would bunch up that many troops and vehicles without a strong air cap, unless they knew in advance they were immune from attack.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 2) by Weasley on Wednesday June 20 2018, @02:31PM
Our new space force will pick up the slack. We'll shoot em from our space ships.
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Wednesday June 20 2018, @03:09PM (2 children)
That's starting to sound like the Bradley [youtu.be].
🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 2) by frojack on Wednesday June 20 2018, @07:43PM (1 child)
Seriously, you post a link to a two hour video?
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Wednesday June 20 2018, @08:18PM
If you haven't seen it, it's worth the time when you've got 2 hours to spare.
I'm assuming that more than one reader is familiar with the epic saga...
🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 2) by fido_dogstoyevsky on Thursday June 21 2018, @08:02AM
But letting the army have their own wings will tear an unrepairable hole in both time and space...
It's NOT a conspiracy... it's a plot.