Why go for cobras, why not ground attack aircraft?

[AD101]

Hello guys,

the post might look odd, but lets consider it for a while. The costs of operating and maintaining gunships like cobras and fighters like f-16s are enormous. The dive bombers of WW2 like Ju-87 stuka delivered a massive firepower almost equavilant to cobra with deadly accuracy and in my belief should be a lot cheaper than todays fighters jets. Why not use such cheap aircraft instead of using expensive f-16s for ground support specially in war on terror?

 

[DESERT FIGHTER]

Because gunships are more suitable for ground support not fast moving aircrafts..... also the only real COIN plane out there is the A-10 which is not manufactured anymore and is american made.... and is probably expensive n non available to Pakistan...

 

[untitled]

...........also the only real COIN plane out there is the A-10 .....

Ever heard of the OV-10 Bronco or the Pucara ?

 

[Icarus]

Because gunships are more suitable for ground support not fast moving aircrafts..... also the only real COIN plane out there is the A-10 which is not manufactured anymore and is american made.... and is probably expensive n non available to Pakistan...

We were offered the A-10 but we would have to raise a dedicated squadron in the Army, the expenses of which make the project economically non-viable. In case you are wondering why they were not transferred to the PAF then rest assured, that too was considered, however, being a subsonic plane. It would take about half an hour to reach the battlefield(say Bajaur) deliver it's load and fly back. Whereas a Cobra can land in any field, can be loaded up anywhere and can maintain constant presence over the battlefield.

 

[AD101]

Because gunships are more suitable for ground support not fast moving aircrafts

Actually I am very impressed with the stuka. Point Remains the same. Laser guided bombs, hellfires etc all are terribly expensive and require lot of money and politics. On the other hand the old time stuka delievered with almost similar accuracy. Wouldn't it be a cheap alternative?

 

[untitled]

Actually I am very impressed with the stuka. ...

Well this is the 21st century. The cheapest solution would be a high flying turbo prop powered missile carrying drone like the predator

 

[AD101]

Yes A-10s were offered but all they could do, is to fire mavericks and perform bombing runs. The same problem of inaccurate fire. On the other hand the planes like stukas delivered the firepower coupled with psychological effect. They could be of great use in counter insurgency campaigns. using an airplane with operating costs of $10,000 seems rather confusing. .the least I can say

 

[DESERT FIGHTER]

Ever heard of the OV-10 Bronco or the Pucara ?

Not worth it... ancient,slow,weapon load (ordinary nothing advanced) ... heck it would be better to use the damn K-8s instead of these planes.

 

[untitled]

Yes A-10s were offered but all they could do, is to fire mavericks and perform bombing runs. The same problem of inaccurate fire. On the other hand the planes like stukas delivered the firepower coupled with psychological effect. ....

Planes like the Stukas were sitting ducks for fighters even during the battle of Britain. They were moved to the Eastern front where the Luftwaffe enjoyed Air Superiority

 

[AD101]

Yes it is 21st century, but people we are fighting are not using weapons of 21st century, they are still onto guns and rockets why waste millions of dollars when history offers a cheap and effective alternative?

 

[Shabz Nist]

Yes A-10s were offered but all they could do, is to fire mavericks and perform bombing runs. The same problem of inaccurate fire. On the other hand the planes like stukas delivered the firepower coupled with psychological effect. They could be of great use in counter insurgency campaigns. using an airplane with operating costs of $10,000 seems rather confusing. .the least I can say

A-10's for pakistan.....? You must be imagining things.....either that, or my entire being just got shifted over to another dimension.

 

[AD101]

I think in counter insurgency there is no such thing as "Insurgent airforce", this is a solution which can be employed in low cost and intensity conflicts. Even the cobras will be shot down if we use them against indians in the absence of air-superiority

 

[VCheng]

Yes A-10s were offered but all they could do, is to fire mavericks and perform bombing runs.

Are you discounting the GAU-8 Avenger in the nose? (Deadly and accurate.)

 

[AD101]

A-10's for pakistan.....? You must be imagining things.....either that, or my entire being just got shifted over to another dimension.

A-10s were offered during 1980s as far as i read somewhere. But we declined them for f-16s

Are you discounting the GAU-8 Avenger in the nose? (Deadly and accurate.)

Deadly against tanks no doubt, why waste "expensive" depleted uranium bullets against simple targets?

 

[untitled]

why waste millions of dollars when history offers a cheap and effective alternative?

A Predator like drone costs less than the price of a cheap fighter