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

Oberon · 03-16-15, 06:45 AM

The A10 can kinda bodge night service by using the seeker head on the Mavericks, but yeah, it's not really geared for that role.

Scorpion, it's an attractive prospect that's for certain. I think one of the bigger challenges is deciding what role and enemy that the US is gearing itself towards for the 21st century. In fact, to be honest, it's a problem that's facing all NATO militaries, not just the US. We've spent most of the past decade reconfiguring our armed forces from taking on Russia to taking on insurgencies and armed militia, and now we've got a resurgent Russia we're having to quickly reconfigure units back to their original mission.

Sods law really.

The Scorpion might not have the survivability of the A10, but if it's going to be a stand-off attack platform then it doesn't really need it. The problem is, is that the USAF already has a couple of good solid multi-role aircraft in the F-15E and F-16s, not to mention of course, the Reaper and upcoming drones, which are cheaper (by about $4million) and have the advantage of not having a fleshy bit to get killed in action.
So where does the Scorpion fit in?

When the A10 is retired, the only thing that is going to be lost is the Gau-8, the use of which requires the aircraft to get danger close to the enemy, which the Scorpion will lack the survivability of the A10 if the enemy decides to shoot back. The Mavericks can be used by a multi-platform selection of units, as can most of the freefall and guided munitions that the A10 carries, the Scorpion can only carry just over 9,000lb worth of munitions or fuel, compared to the A10s 16,000 and the F-15Es 10,400, although in the Scorpions favour it can carry more than a drone, so there's that.
I do struggle to see the part that the Scorpion would play though, if it's not going to have the survivability of the A10 and will be a stand-off aircraft then its role is better filled by an F15E, or if you're looking for cost effectiveness then by a group of drones which also have the advantage of not having a pilot to be captured by the enemy if it gets shot down (which in todays fight against barbarians like Daesh is, as the Jordanian airforce found out, an invaluable advantage).
It's cheap, I'll give it that, but its mission is already covered in the USAF, I think that it will probably do better in the foreign market.

03-16-15, 06:45 AM	#5
Oberon Lucky Jack Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 25,976 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 20	The A10 can kinda bodge night service by using the seeker head on the Mavericks, but yeah, it's not really geared for that role. Scorpion, it's an attractive prospect that's for certain. I think one of the bigger challenges is deciding what role and enemy that the US is gearing itself towards for the 21st century. In fact, to be honest, it's a problem that's facing all NATO militaries, not just the US. We've spent most of the past decade reconfiguring our armed forces from taking on Russia to taking on insurgencies and armed militia, and now we've got a resurgent Russia we're having to quickly reconfigure units back to their original mission. Sods law really. The Scorpion might not have the survivability of the A10, but if it's going to be a stand-off attack platform then it doesn't really need it. The problem is, is that the USAF already has a couple of good solid multi-role aircraft in the F-15E and F-16s, not to mention of course, the Reaper and upcoming drones, which are cheaper (by about $4million) and have the advantage of not having a fleshy bit to get killed in action. So where does the Scorpion fit in? When the A10 is retired, the only thing that is going to be lost is the Gau-8, the use of which requires the aircraft to get danger close to the enemy, which the Scorpion will lack the survivability of the A10 if the enemy decides to shoot back. The Mavericks can be used by a multi-platform selection of units, as can most of the freefall and guided munitions that the A10 carries, the Scorpion can only carry just over 9,000lb worth of munitions or fuel, compared to the A10s 16,000 and the F-15Es 10,400, although in the Scorpions favour it can carry more than a drone, so there's that. I do struggle to see the part that the Scorpion would play though, if it's not going to have the survivability of the A10 and will be a stand-off aircraft then its role is better filled by an F15E, or if you're looking for cost effectiveness then by a group of drones which also have the advantage of not having a pilot to be captured by the enemy if it gets shot down (which in todays fight against barbarians like Daesh is, as the Jordanian airforce found out, an invaluable advantage). It's cheap, I'll give it that, but its mission is already covered in the USAF, I think that it will probably do better in the foreign market.