Fun fact: originally the A-10 didn’t have electronic targeting or IFF (friend or foe) because the designer thought fighter planes still dog fought like they did in WW2 so they were deemed unnecessary in the name of maneuverability and cost reduction. Because of that outdated mindset the A-10 is the second place plane for most friendly fire incentdence and number one for most civilians killed. Wait actually that’s not really a fun fact…
That guy who claims he designed the A-10 for those reasons is actually a dumbass who didn’t even touch the design. They didn’t give any strike craft those abilities because they didn’t exist at the time. It was late Vietnam.
It didn’t get the targeting packages that the Eagle got because the Air Force only ever made the thing in an attempt to keep the Army from getting armed Helicopters. They promptly tried to get rid of it but every time they seriously attempt it the Army just shows them their congressional proposal for an Army strike jet. The Air Force has repeatedly sand bagged the A-10, hoping everyone will believe the CAS mission is dead.
But the war in Ukraine has shown that it’s very much not.
I will admit though that once the F-35 reaches certain scales of economy it will be cheaper to run them and some arsenal drones. But only because of that sand bagging.
Fun fact: originally the A-10 didn’t have electronic targeting or IFF (friend or foe) because the designer thought fighter planes still dog fought like they did in WW2 so they were deemed unnecessary in the name of maneuverability and cost reduction. Because of that outdated mindset the A-10 is the second place plane for most friendly fire incentdence and number one for most civilians killed. Wait actually that’s not really a fun fact…
That guy who claims he designed the A-10 for those reasons is actually a dumbass who didn’t even touch the design. They didn’t give any strike craft those abilities because they didn’t exist at the time. It was late Vietnam.
It didn’t get the targeting packages that the Eagle got because the Air Force only ever made the thing in an attempt to keep the Army from getting armed Helicopters. They promptly tried to get rid of it but every time they seriously attempt it the Army just shows them their congressional proposal for an Army strike jet. The Air Force has repeatedly sand bagged the A-10, hoping everyone will believe the CAS mission is dead.
But the war in Ukraine has shown that it’s very much not.
I will admit though that once the F-35 reaches certain scales of economy it will be cheaper to run them and some arsenal drones. But only because of that sand bagging.