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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 JoeMerchant on Wednesday June 20 2018, @02:50PM (2 children)
which (among a myriad of other reasons) is why the F-35 will not be covering the role of the A-10, we need more of them.
I'm not saying that the thinking is clear, or logical, but what is being proposed is a low cost replacement to cover the A-10 role. As with all things in life, maintaining the existing is almost always cheaper than replacement with new - at least for the first several years after replacement. Cost of design/development of a new platform will dwarf any A-10 updating efforts, which is probably a big part of why it is being pursued and lobbied for by all those players who will benefit from the design/development activity through direct employment, advancement of careers, etc.
Personally, I think the B-52 was an excellent example of how a platform could be extended for decades and still be more cost effective than its more modern replacements.
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(Score: 2) by frojack on Wednesday June 20 2018, @07:08PM (1 child)
The problem is also one of having enough A-10s in the theater you need them right now.
They are slow, and fairly large (wing span wise), and its hard to get them to where you need them.
The size of aircraft they are considering could probably fit 4 or 5 in a C5A, especially if they request folding wing tips.
If you plan them for use in areas where all you have to contend with is shoulder arms, you don't have to build as robust as the A10.
And don't discount the possibility that the Air Force might slip Iron Mike in the cockpit and turn it over to the boys in Creech to fly.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Wednesday June 20 2018, @08:15PM
As I said elsewhere, that's what they really need: 10 expendable drones with all firepower of the gunship but in a much lighter package, instead of one armored and manned gunship.
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