A10 upgrade in near future

[Call911]

Why they would move away from a tried/tested proven platform is beyond me, but this looks like good news for the A10 community.

http://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/air-force-advances-new-a-10-requirements

[zxarkov]

It is a aircraft that totally deserves a upgrade to keep the air frames flying and with enhanced capabilities possibly. It is a very cost effective weapon platform at $18.8 million a plane.

Especially when used in low-intensity warfare against irregular forces, which are the most common type of conflicts for awhile now.The USAF needs to keep costs down with all its massive budget over-runs and new aircraft procurement issues.

Edited May 4, 2016 by zxarkov

[probad]

if there's enough money to go around why the hell not

Edited May 4, 2016 by probad

[Fer_Fer]

Why they would move away from a tried/tested proven platform is beyond me, but this looks like good news for the A10 community.

http://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/air-force-advances-new-a-10-requirements

 

seems they are drafting the requirements for a A-10 successor rather then an upgrade though

[Milli]

seems they are drafting the requirements for a A-10 successor rather then an upgrade though

 

That's how I read it too.

[Sierra99]

Cancel the F-35s and you can upgrade the whole fleet of A-10s, F-15s and F-16s with money left over.

[Ghostraider]

In many times good old and simply thinks are better then the newest. Works every time under every conditions and aproved in every battle.

[Sweep]

Cancel the F-35s and you can upgrade the whole fleet of A-10s, F-15s and F-16s with money left over.

 

And you can have a force that goes irrelevant far sooner - Maybe that's what you want short term, but its worth thinking ahead more than 10-15 years.

[RoflSeal]

Cancel the F-35s and you can upgrade the whole fleet of A-10s, F-15s and F-16s with money left over.

 

To maintain the legacy aircraft is estimated to cost cost $4 trillion from 2015-2065, about 4x more then the F-35.

[zxarkov]

If those numbers are actually correct, Id say the USAF needs a 3rd option then..

 

To maintain the legacy aircraft is estimated to cost cost $4 trillion from 2015-2065, about 4x more then the F-35.

[RoflSeal]

If those numbers are actually correct, Id say the USAF needs a 3rd option then..

 

And what would you do to ensure to make this 3rd option the cheapest option especially considering the already sunk costs of the F-35?

[zxarkov]

Sunk cost fallacy, cut the program if the costs cannot be reigned in. The future is in drones, pilot less/autonomous craft. Perhaps skip or hold off on major 5th gen aircraft spending and look towards the 6th gen.