The competition between the A-10 and F-35 for close air support (CAS), combat search and rescue, and forward air control missions was finally released under pressure. It was so redacted that there is no way to make solid conclusions about the competition. One thing is clear, however. The Air Force has lost the trust of the Army.
Yeah, who knows what was in the test with all the redactions of the old test that took place before the Air Force killed the A-10.
But this is a vital point of the A-10 retirement:
"The common misconception between USAF leadership and we, the A-10C community, is that we are ready to die on the hill to keep the A-10 alive forever. The reality is quite the opposite," Patrick “BURT” Brown, an A-10 pilot and Air Force weapons officer, wrote in a piece earlier this year for The War Zone. "What we care about most is keeping the corporate knowledge of counter-land tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) alive regardless of the airframe. Presently, the threat of that knowledge dying off is very real given that the A-10C is being divested with no plan for follow on aircraft."
"Within the USAF, the A-10C community is the only one that still produces Forward Air Controllers (Airborne), known as FAC(A)s," Brown added. "This is a troubling data point not because FAC(A) missions have been on any recent Air Tasking Orders (ATOs), but because it signals that the USAF is willing to let that skill set die with the A-10C."
"The skills learned and honed by practicing the FAC(A) mission set are invaluable in any counter-land operation. The F-35 could do this mission, but they don’t. The F-16 has done this mission, but they don’t today," he continued. "Between all the other high-end missions they must maintain proficiency in, CAS and other counter-land competencies are now relegated to 'just-in-time' training for the USAF’s multi-role fighter communities."
That's exactly what I've been complaining about for years. I know and accept the A-10 can't carry out the missions in a high-threat environment and that a new plane is necessary. But the pilots have to know how to support ground forces and not just be general purpose flyers with a default to air superiority.
The Air Force has been obsessed with killing the A-10 and as an institution doesn't care about helping the Army in its ground mission. As that initial article states:
"The Air Force isn't even pretending to train F-35 pilots for the [ground attack] role now so accumulated attack pilot knowledge will very rapidly evaporate."
And honestly, the grudging and late release makes me suspect the A-10--even not allowed using its superior CAS hardware--did better than the F-35. It may very well have been because of the A-10 pilots and not the platforms' comparative capabilities. But that's the really damning part.
Do you wonder why I want a new Army Fires Corps?
NOTE: TDR Winter War of 2022 coverage continues here.
NOTE: I'm adding updates on the Last Hamas War in this post.
