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Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce
The A-10 is a red headed step child because the Air Force wanted bigger badder supersonic fighters. The A-10 was proposed by the Army for ground support but the Air Force insisted the ground war was dead. They insisted that ICBMs and air war was the future.
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Members of A-10 squadrons tell me the A-10 is a creation of a West German General (and WWII fighter pilot) who so hated Russians.
Air Force generals - as demonstrated even by Israelis in their seventh invasion of Lebanon - still refuse to admit their purpose and abilities. The A-10 is probably the world's best airplane. All other Air Force planes are support functions to their best plane - the A10. The A-10 is for the #1 job - support the boots.
This fact demonstrated but again and again - in Kuwait, in Iraq, in Afghanistan (British troops in a leaked analysis don't want their own airplanes - they want A-10s). They don't want UAVs which are not as effective, are largely experimental, and cannot respond fast enough. A-10 is the only Air Force plane designed specifically for the Air Force's #1 task - support the boots. Why? There is still no replacement for boots on the ground; other than negotiations. Those boots need effective air support. In the Air Force, that is an A-10.