How the HELL is the F-35 (JSF) supposed to replace the A-10 Thunderbolt?

[wfbberzerker]

will a varient of it have VTOL?

 

[AmigaMan]

Originally posted by: Marshallj

Originally posted by: AmigaMan
[if you want CAS, use apache's. It may not have that gun, but it has missles that can do the job against tanks. And it's probably better suited for CAS in that it's gun can shoot better in multiple directions which is useful for mowing down enemy troops.

They use A-10's for a reason. Helicopters don't carry anywhere NEAR the load the an A-10 carries, not even close. Look up the specs... not only can an A-10 carry more weapon load than an Apache, but it can carry more than the fully loaded Apache weighs itself.

An Apache weighs 11,800 pounds empty, and 15,075 loaded for a mission.

An A-10 can carry 16,000 lbs just of ordinance... and weighs 51,000 lbs fully loaded. The scales of these aircraft are completely different. Helicopters are relatively light and fragile aircraft. The A-10 is not.

but if you're talking CAS against enemy tanks and soldiers, it doesn't take much in the way of ordinance, just guns and missles. The A10 has a lot of room for bombs and who's role can be replaced by the JSF or whatever other aircraft (like the F15E, Seymour Johnson AFB in da house). Sure the Apache is light and fragile, but it's stealthy and way more manauverable than the A-10.

 

[Swanny]

I also have a feeling that the JSF would stall out trying to do the low altitude and slow gun runs the A-10 does.

Bottom line - Nothing designed to be stealth and fast can replace the A-10. The A-10 is designed to be slow and a have a big "oh crud" factor when the other guys hear or see it coming.

 

[Marshallj]

Originally posted by: wfbberzerker
will a varient of it have VTOL?

Yes, but that's mostly just used for airshows.

In reality, it will need a short takeoff run if it expects to carry any useful load, just as the Harrier does today.

 

[Marshallj]

Originally posted by: AmigaMan
[but if you're talking CAS against enemy tanks and soldiers, it doesn't take much in the way of ordinance, just guns and missles. The A10 has a lot of room for bombs and who's role can be replaced by the JSF or whatever other aircraft (like the F15E, Seymour Johnson AFB in da house). Sure the Apache is light and fragile, but it's stealthy and way more manauverable than the A-10.

CAS requires an aircraft to loiter around for long periods of time and have weapons available in case the troops on the ground need support. Those missiles weight a lot. The F-15 can carry more than enough load, but it is too fragile to be hanging around an area with small arms fire.

And in case you have not read my posts, the A-10 *is not* getting replaced by the JSF. Current plans call for it to remain in service until 2028.

By the way, the A-10 is MUCH more manueverable than the Apache. The Apache can hover, that's about it. It's a lumbering, slow aircraft. The A-10 is slow compared to a F-15, but is still more than twice as fast as the Apache.

They have different roles, and you cannot expect a specialized aircraft like the A-10 to be replaced by a general purpose aircraft.