SUBSIM Radio Room Forums - View Single Post - Textron Scorpion, Replacement for the A-10?

Stealhead · 03-16-15, 06:21 AM

The problem that the A-10 faces is that it simply can not survive in a modern air defense environment. It doesn't matter that its very tough and it is. What matters is due to its speed and low altitude (that it must get to in order to "go kinetic" most every last would either get destroyed or damaged to such a state as to become a write off)

Another disadvantage the A-10 has that few realize is that it is primarily a day time operating platform it lacks the ability to operate at night effectively. This hurts as the military special forces in particular prefer to operate nocturnaly.

A third weakness of the A-10 is that the surviving airframes a nearing the end of their service lives most where made between 1978 and 1982 so there are 33 years old at the youngest. Now true there's BUFFs that are older but they have not spent their lives pulling the GS that the A-10 dose.

The truth is that several aircraft can in fact perform the modern CAS role as well as the A-10 can and in a superior manner during darkness. An example that you might not expect is the Bone (B-1B and yes I'm aware of the 2013 fratricide incident the A-10 has also been involved in fratricides several in fact).

I have a personal connection with the A-10 having served with "her" in the USAF but she's an old lady now and deserves to go and play bridge with the A-1 Skyraider and P-47 while drinking a nice hot cup of JP8.

The F-35 can croak for all I care best short to midterm solution is to use the the existing airframes that have already replaced the A-10 in areas of the CAS role since the late 80's (F-16 and F-15E Strike Eagle both are fully night operable).

The A-10 got lucky seeing as we got involved COIN warfare for a few years but that environment dose not represent the conditions of a modern equally equipped enemy in nearly any way. Not to mention the fact that even the Taliban and ISIL don't have to worry about the Hog at night.

@Wolf a JADM and many other munitions used in CAS these days can be deployed to great effect without the need to get low.

03-16-15, 06:21 AM	#4
Stealhead Navy Seal Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Kentucky Posts: 5,421 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	The problem that the A-10 faces is that it simply can not survive in a modern air defense environment. It doesn't matter that its very tough and it is. What matters is due to its speed and low altitude (that it must get to in order to "go kinetic" most every last would either get destroyed or damaged to such a state as to become a write off) Another disadvantage the A-10 has that few realize is that it is primarily a day time operating platform it lacks the ability to operate at night effectively. This hurts as the military special forces in particular prefer to operate nocturnaly. A third weakness of the A-10 is that the surviving airframes a nearing the end of their service lives most where made between 1978 and 1982 so there are 33 years old at the youngest. Now true there's BUFFs that are older but they have not spent their lives pulling the GS that the A-10 dose. The truth is that several aircraft can in fact perform the modern CAS role as well as the A-10 can and in a superior manner during darkness. An example that you might not expect is the Bone (B-1B and yes I'm aware of the 2013 fratricide incident the A-10 has also been involved in fratricides several in fact). I have a personal connection with the A-10 having served with "her" in the USAF but she's an old lady now and deserves to go and play bridge with the A-1 Skyraider and P-47 while drinking a nice hot cup of JP8. The F-35 can croak for all I care best short to midterm solution is to use the the existing airframes that have already replaced the A-10 in areas of the CAS role since the late 80's (F-16 and F-15E Strike Eagle both are fully night operable). The A-10 got lucky seeing as we got involved COIN warfare for a few years but that environment dose not represent the conditions of a modern equally equipped enemy in nearly any way. Not to mention the fact that even the Taliban and ISIL don't have to worry about the Hog at night. @Wolf a JADM and many other munitions used in CAS these days can be deployed to great effect without the need to get low. Last edited by Stealhead; 03-16-15 at 06:37 AM.