One thing that the A-10 has going for it is the gatling gun mounted in the nose. Not only can that thing chew up armor, but damn near anything else. The recoil from the gun is so powerful that it stops the plane in mid-air and there’s a delay installed to interrupt the gun so the plane doesn’t fall from the sky! While a modern fighter/bomber can deliver a powerful enough payload to take out a tank, an A-10 can do that, and hang around. That has got to have a devistating psychological impact on the opposing ground forces.
Burt Rutan was working on a replacement design, but I’ve not heard anything about it in a number of years.
Well, it might pay to read up on the purpose of the A-10 …
“The A/OA-10 Thunderbolt II is the first Air Force aircraft specially designed for close air support of ground forces. They are simple, effective and survivable twin-engine jet aircraft that can be used against all ground targets, including tanks and other armored vehicles.” (Emphasis Mine)
I think that the retirement scenario 10 years ago was because it would have poor survivability against an evenly matched opponent. But with US air supremacy in any conceivable battle being able to take out sophisticated SAM sites and sweep opponents fighter craft from the skies, there is no point in retiring it yet, as it provides good protection for its pilot and very serious close ground support that the army and marines want.
One of my understandings re the 'hog was that the avionics had no ability to link up to any satellite network (which with the current battle environment increases the risk of friendly fire). I also understand that the 'hog had no GPS capability and during the war handhelds were used to augment the dead recogning navigation.
On another note – There are BUFs (B-52s) in service that are older than I am! I agree that the AF is not stupid and will keep hardware as long as it is usable – however, it looks like the AF is not looking for a replacement for close air support.
But they are doing it. See posts by BUFDRVR on rec.aviation.military, who was flying B-52 in Afghanistan, and was doing CAS by dropping bombs from high alt that were guided by troops on the ground.
Just because you’re not screaming in at low altitude guns blazing, flares popping left and right with AAA fire knocking off vital bits of aircraft doesn’t mean that you’re not doing CAS.