Posted on 09/14/2010 10:53:40 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
If we’re fighting Gepards, we’re fighting WWIII. Little birds will have to stay home.
Of course! But lets hope this will never happen! But anyway the gepard was just an example (because it was the first video i found where a AA Gun shot at a drone after a quick search on youtube) what any modern anti aircraft defence would do against this birds. So as said they might be usefull in afghanistan and some other totaly “f*cked” up 3rd World African hell holes but thats all. But as said they should give them a try in afghanistan because they won´t get shot down by an AK 47 or an 30 years old RPG thats for shure!
If we’re fighting Gepards, we’re fighting WWIII. Little birds will have to stay home.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CjoXrsDcOQ
why not just bring back the Skyraiders???
(1)They Burn AVGAS, which really isn't in the pipeline anymore for the all-diesel and jet-fuel military. Probably have to be re-engined with turboprop.
(2)Spares for that big radial? Fuggedaboutit.
(3) The Skyraider, impressive beast that it was, was the latest in 1946 tech. Although it has enough room in it to build a small raio station, it would take quite a bit to get it up to mod specs.
(4) Speaking of beasts, this baby was tough to yank and bank, kind of heavy controls. OTOH it COULD carry 4.5 tons of various pyrotechnic devices.
(5) I wonder how many are left in the boneyard?
Not sure I agree with you. The vast majority of the A-10s are still in the active fleet and the AF is still throwing considerable $$ at it to keep it modernized and capable through 2030 (think $1.2B wing replacement, just to name one). That’s not exactly what I would call ‘hate’. The A-10 still is the CAS platform of choice in the AOR for the ground pounders. Just the sound of those fans bearing down on the bad guys has ended many a firefight.
Not true. There are a few acres of A-10 tooling sitting in the Arizona desert (AMARG). Perhaps not all of it, and not in the best of condition, either. But I’ve obtained many pieces and had them refurbished for production purposes. Boeing likely chose to fabricate new tooling because it’s easier (cheaper) than trying to refurbish/recalibrate old rusted out tooling. New tooling can be made using new, more precise technologies not available in the early 70s.
You don’t want to put a turboprop on such a lovely plane. The radial is essentially more frontal armor for the airplane... If a turboprop takes damage I bet it just throws its blades and packs up.
As for the rest, you’re right. We need a 21st century Sky Raider with advanced electronics for all weather delivery of smart ordnance, a long loiter time, and a massive ordnance loads. Just image what sort heck a plane with four tons of Small Diameter Bombs could do...
If we can make cheap, so that there are lot of them, that would be even better.
I think that is main attraction of these Tucanos and AT-6s. Their load isn’t great, but they are (relatively( cheap so you can have lots of them and sell to third worlders, too..
If we ARE going for a turbo-prop COIN aircraft, though, we need to go with an updated OV-10 Bronco.
OV 10 is jake with me. Although I have always wanted to try the Argentine Pucará.
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