[Zhang Fei]

The A-10 was always one of the Infantrymans greatest friends. It’s ability to provide close air support is unmatched by other aircraft in the inventory. I don’t understand any of the logic behind the effort to retire it.

The idea is that because it can't protect itself against front-line fighters, it always needs top cover. But don't supersonic jet fighters doing CAS and strike missions in contested airspace have to have top cover, because it's hard to focus on those missions and also defend yourself against enemy aircraft?

[Hulka]

Not really. The F-15E comes to mind. . .it provides its own AI. The A-10 with its heaters can do the same. . .communicates with AWACS and knows the flow of the A/A fight.

Not hard at all. . .just busy. Even when you have air supremacy you always are thinking about and looking for airborne threats.

[melancholy]

“The idea is that because it can’t protect itself against front-line fighters, it always needs top cover. But don’t supersonic jet fighters doing CAS and strike missions in contested airspace have to have top cover, because it’s hard to focus on those missions and also defend yourself against enemy aircraft.”

After a few days of an air war, enemy air defenses, airports and aircraft are destroyed.

Our troops are deployed after establishing air supremacy. They can be closely supported by Warthogs and Apaches.