Raytri and the BANDIT wote: SmilingBandit wrote (View Post):
As for replacing my beloved A-10...NEVER. You haven't lived until you've seen a GAU-8 30mm depleted uranium shower turn a tank into shredded wheat. The thing can out-turn an F-16, completely lose one engine, carry 16,000 lbs. of mixed ordinance, and the pilot sits in a bathtub or armor capable of stopping 57mm rounds. NOTHING is comparable to the Warthog as a ground pounder. Long live the hog !!
As an ex-tanker, let me add "Amen." The Warthog may be an unloved stepchild to the Air Force, but I'll take one over a Strike Eagle any day. And I'm dubious that the JSF has the same ground-support capability, given its multimission design.
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There is no dought that the A-10 the best at ground support but that is what it was very specifically designed for. It was designed for the European theatre and specifically to bust Soviet designed tanks. The funny thing is that it did not get to kill the little Commie buggers/Soviets buut it did the next best thing - it killed Soviet designed tanks and Soviet/Russian trained Iraqi's.
The AIR FORCE is getting the A-35 ground support varient of the JSF. No it is not designed with the narrow job description that the A-10 was but it will do well.
I think that the A-35 will do well when and if called upon. It will rely on missles to kill tanks. I believe that it still has guns but I also believe that Ray is correct that the ammo load is no where near that of the Wart Hog.
Does anyone know if there are any knicknames for the JSF ? Maybe each service that has it's varient will come up with it's own knickname.
The Air Force/ Navy may have to help the JARHEADS spell out their knickname
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