A-10 Vs. F-18

[+ST0RM 145]

In today's fight over Afghanistan, each aircraft does pretty well for what they are each tasked to do. You dont have the huge Superpower slugfest of the Cold War where large flights of jets would battle it out for Air Supremacy or take on battalions of armor. The Super Hornet (or ATARS config'd D-model) can run a fast recce route using the SHARPS pod, while still keeping a good portion of it's bombs. The A-10 can loiter over an area and use the targeting pod, but doesnt have the capability to utilize a recce pod. Both aircraft have been using their guns during strafing runs and with the current loads, they are pretty close in what they bring to the fight. However, down in the valleys, the A-10 has the manueverability to stay close overhead, while the Hornets will need more room. The A-10 has issues at high altitudes with a full combat load, where the Hornets do ok at the higher elevations.

 

In reality, tactics are what makes or breaks any aircraft. You must evolve and keep ahead of the emerging threats. I think both communities have done a great job in meeting the challenge of an urban environment in Iraq, and the mountainous villages in the 'Stans.

 

If I was having to build an Air Force, those two aircraft would be high on my list of equipment to purchase.

 

-S

[zmatt 2]

I don't see why the A-10 needs to be replaced. It's great at what it does and I would argue that no other attack aircraft combines the firepower, survivability and the endurance of one. Not to mention the psychological effects on our guys when they hear the buzz of its gun. I think to money went in the right place. The A-10 is in no threat of being made obsolete, but the F-15 is.

Edited January 11, 2009 by zmatt

[shotdown 8]

i have a mate who fly in FAB the Super Tucano and he said me the Aircraft is "too slow" for manpads....he reported to me in a Exercise the Igla couldn't lock on it,

 

I thought MANPADS worked against Helicopters, and those are quite slower than the Super Tucano so...

[JediMaster 451]

More likely the answer is the engine was too cool for the older model seekers to lock on to. Speed has nothing to do with a lock on.

[+EricJ 4,246]

Its the question for what do you need the plane. Of course the F-18 is the more glamorous bird. Its faster, higer developed, more modern etc. But at the moment the Warthog is much more usefull. In Afghanistan or Iraq the A-10 is the needed plane. The man on he ground needs the support from the air and in CAS the slower but heavy armoured A-10 superior to the fast Hornet.

I have the strong feeling, that in the moment the money to develope new planes went in the wrong direction. F-22, F-35, Eurofighter Typhoon, Saab Gripen, Su-27 and MiG-29 derivates are all nice, very nice and excellent birds, but nearly useless in the afghan mountainsite or the iraqi cities. What our air forces now realy need are successors of the A-10 or Su-25 Sturmoviks.

 

Well having some experience the A-10 is CHOICE for Afghanistan, and along with attack helicopters, the best. F-15E is good, but not the best, but it drops bombs, and drops them accurately, so it's not so much whether it's faster or slower, it's how you employ it. Having only virtual experience, and watching from the ground, fast jets can and do work in the CAS environment. We've been in 'ghan for nine years and never heard a complaint about most jets in-theatre.