2020 is an eon away if you actually need to use it NOW.

The B-52 performs a nuclear deterrence role that bumps it up to a whole other layer of strategic importance than a purely tactical aircraft like the A-10.

But right now they have zero time over target, because the F-35 are not to be deployed to a combat area.

A. Yes, it is.

We need the ability to engage in non-peer state warfare without breaking the bank.

The Air Force will not use the F-35 for CAS...it will not happen.

Remove Turkey from NATO immediately and block all weapon exports to that country. We could be looking at the next Pol Pot taking shape right here.

Why not just avoid taking damage?

What good does limping home do for anybody on the ground? If the plane gets shot up and it limps home, then the guys on the ground are still stuck there. Oh, but now they don’t have a plane to drop bombs for them.

Once upon a time, the only way to hit ground targets with any sort of accuracy was with low-level attack runs. The A-10 was designed for that sort of warfare. But now, bombs are accurate enough that you don’t need to do that sort of thing anymore.

There are more examples of them shot full of holes and continuing the mission than those of them ending the sortie early.

the tiny air to air gun on the F-35 is not going to work against armor or military vehicles the way the GAU-8 cannon does.

Pierre Sprey is an utter nutcase who tried to undermine the F-15 at every opportunity. If it were up to him, they’d still be using bi-planes.

So like every other jet ever made then?

For the Air Force, the F-35 is being brought in the replace the F-16. One of the F-16's duties is CAS. So the F-35 will do CAS the same way it is currently done by the F-16.

The F-16 is a fast-mover and it has no problem with doing CAS. Neither does the F-15E.

Okay, it’s stealthy, but unless we’re fighting Russia or China, I’m not sure that really matters that much.

Do F-16's have any trouble hitting targets nowadays?

What about the ability to avoid taking damage in the first place?

What’s wrong with the Navy?