A Kosher Warthog ?

[shimmy]

I know that the a-10 often requires maintainence every fourth or fifth sortie,at best and that Israel really does not have the resources to do this but would an A-10 ever be a practical weapon for Israel?I know it is a low and slow plane but if Israel had the skies could an a-10 be practical?
Israel has always prided itself on the abilities of its maintainence crews and an a-10 would require a lot of resources but I still wonder about thew possibilities.

 

[Scorpius]

what does Israel have for CAS role in it's air force currently?does it mainly use choppers like the Apache mainly for ground attack operations?

off-topic:what's forward air control exactly?

 

[shimmy]

Were I in the field , be it infantry or armor, I would be more afraid of a single warthog than a single Longbow. Doesn't a warthog have a more powerful gun than any helicopter(or jet)?Perhaps I am confusing the needs in Iraq with that in Israel.
Are you saying that there is no use for an a-10 in the defence of Israel?Can the Longbows do the job of an a-10 equally well?I am really seeking knowledge not an arguement.

 

[kato]

off-topic:what's forward air control exactly?

A forward observer in the field who tells your pilots where and when exactly to drop their stuff. Similar to an artillery observer.

 

[Scorpius]

Are you saying that there is no use for an a-10 in the defence of Israel?Can the Longbows do the job of an a-10 equally well?

Obviously the Thunderbolt II is an excellent tank buster but given what your unfriendly neighbours got,don't think you need it.There could be some use,but against whom?I heard Hezbollah downed an Apache though.If the Apache has become somewhat vulnerable in fights like that of the last year's war,maybe IDF can find it useful.
It can take a lot of damage and will be harder to hit than a helo.

Longbows are supposed to do the same job as the Warthogs,aren't they?which is why the USAF wanted to get rid of them once and employ combat helos like the Apache to do fulfil their roles.correct me if I am wrong.

 

[meh]

I agree with your guys but the thing is that the this aircraft is nearing the end of its life and will be replaced by aircrafts like the jsf-35 and the IAF already has aircrafts that are twice as good as the A-10 so why do they even need to bother.

 

[shimmy]

You're Right

I guess you are correct.I just heard the statistics about the a-10 in Iraq and it really seemed like a great weapon .

 

[rjmaz1]

Im a huge fan of the A-10.

It an excellent aircraft for a low tech enemy. The original version is so basic that the pilot has to see the enemy with his own eyes. Optical and IR sensors are extremely important these days. A F-16 with these sensors can perform close air support from medium altitude and would do a far better job than the basic A-10 version. It can then drop a small LGB onto the target with extreme accuracy that the basic A-10 could never attain.

The new C version of the A-10 is extremely potent. With the optical/IR sensors the A-10 can now fly higher and detect the enemy from outside visual range and now use precision guided weapons.

In this role as the altitude is now much higher you may as well use the F-16 or in the future the F-35 as you no longer need armour or low speed agility.

If you had a unlimited budget the A-10 can still be very useful as it fits between the Apache attack helicopter and the F-16. In some missions it could perform better than both. Though with both the F-16 and Apache you could go without the A-10 quite easily.

 

[Super Nimrod]

However, you will still need to come down to a lower altitude to use the gun and is being used daily in afghanistan and for some attacks is still the weapon of choice. Given the option between the A-10, or F-16, F-35, or indeed any of the other high performance stuff with a gun on I, would take the A-10 every time at just above treetop height as its as tough as old boots. Above that and the choice becomes more difficult, for the reasons stated by others above.

 

[nyrhex]

I heard Hezbollah downed an Apache though.If the Apache has become somewhat vulnerable in fights like that of the last year's war,maybe IDF can find it useful.

a CH-53 Sea Stallion was shot down with an anti-tank missile after it unloaded troops. an Apache did crash but it was in Israel, and it was a mechanical problem, the rotor came of for some reason so all Apaches were grounded until all rotors were replaced.

 

[Scorpius]

oh.then there seems to be no reason to have A-10 supplement it though.
Isn't Israel getting the F-35?I was under the impression the Lighning IIs were supposed to replace the Thunderbolt IIs,take over their role as a 'bombtruck'.

 

[nyrhex]

oh.then there seems to be no reason to have A-10 supplement it though.
Isn't Israel getting the F-35?I was under the impression the Lighning IIs were supposed to replace the Thunderbolt IIs,take over their role as a 'bombtruck'.

yes, Israel is getting the F-35.

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