Pentagon study validates USAF A-10 retirement plan but no CAS-specific replacement

[Zarvan]

Key Points

• The USAF is pressing on with plans to retire the A-10
• There is no firm plan to develop another CAS-specific aircraft, so the USAF will rely on legacy combat aircraft and, eventually, the F-35

A multiservice summit on the Pentagon's close-air support (CAS) mission confirmed USAF plans to retire the venerable Fairchild-Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II, but did not yield plans for a new CAS aircraft, according to the US Air Force's Air Combat Command (ACC).

The USAF is still seeking to phase out the A-10, but has no firm plans for a CAS-specific follow-on aircraft. (USAF)

"There wasn't anything definitive, other than we will continue to think about [a new aircraft] and plan for it and see what that would look like," said General Herbert Carlisle, according to a transcript of a 6 March press conference about the summit and the USAF's plans for CAS.
Pentagon study validates USAF A-10 retirement plan but no CAS-specific replacement - IHS Jane's 360

 

[Shabi1]

Most of the A-10 duties are being picked up by drones. But still there is no alternative that can surpass the A-10 in CAS.

 

[AMDR]

It will get interesting if they decide on a entirely new CAS aircraft.

Close Air Support Summit Sparks Nod To Textron’s Scorpion « Breaking Defense - Defense industry news, analysis and commentary

It kinda reminds me of the Su-25

 

[Zarvan]

It will get interesting if they decide on a entirely new CAS aircraft.

Close Air Support Summit Sparks Nod To Textron’s Scorpion « Breaking Defense - Defense industry news, analysis and commentary
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It kinda reminds me of the Su-25

It can be the best alternative specially for bombing missions

 

[AMDR]

It can be the best alternative specially for bombing missions

It's cheap too. Supposedly only $20 million per aircraft compared to the current $90-100 million for a F-35.

 

[C130]

new CAS should be cheap, effective and have a long loiter over the battlefield.

i would like to see small munitions for such a CAS in the 20lb range and a 360 degree optical/iir sensor and a sensor to see people hiding underneath foliage.

so you can see everything around you at the same time like DAS on the F-35.