The A-10 was highly fear by the Russian military and it has proven itself in combat. The F-35 is supposed to be the multi-purpose plane that has been found to fit one one purpose. It’s engines have to be replaced, and the avionics are also not up to par. Like the B-52 BUFF the A-10 Wart Hog
should be around for a long time. Just update the avionics.
‘The A-10 was highly fear by the Russian military and it has proven itself in combat.’
Not at all. A-10 is not absolutely useless in nation-state warfare against near pear opponent but it would suffer enormous losses against any force which has either air force of its own or/and relevant air defences.
It is one thing to go against camel jockeys armed with rifles and RPGs, but now imagine doing a job opposing hundreds of trained troops with manpads, 23mm anti-air artillery and dozens of theater defence SAMs. Not to mention even a Vietnam era fighter jet would easily shoot down as many A-10s as it would be possible considering a number of missiles and cannon shells available.
It would be a fish in a barrel situation and a A-10 pilot would be that fish.