[Simon Green]

MANPADs are making close air support increasingly dangerous for pilots when attacking well-equipped ground troops....hence the USAF's preference for hitting them with smart weapons, preferably from either weapons platforms at 50,000 feet (well out of range from shoulder-fired weapons) or drones.

Also, smart artillery munitions are replacing many close air support missions...at least for US forces.

[Bonemaker]

“MANPADs are making close air support increasingly dangerous for pilots when attacking well-equipped ground troops”

Thanks to Obama and Clinton.