Read the entire article here.
I don't know who this Janine Davidson (she's has PHD in international affairs and is a milf too) is, but she's on my new watch list (for the brain, not the face). I haven't read anyone take apart the USAF position the way she has. Usually I'm not impressed by the so called "brains" at these think tanks. What we usually get is processed groupthink, but this is different.
Add this to your weekend must read.
Well, her bio says she knows something about airplanes and how they're used. A real point in her favor.
ReplyDelete"Dr. Davidson began her career in the United States Air Force, where she was an aircraft commander and senior pilot for the C-130 and the C-17 cargo aircraft. She flew combat support and humanitarian air mobility missions in Asia, Europe and the Middle East and was an instructor pilot at the U.S. Air Force Academy."
And despite having worked for the Obama administration, she can think for herself. That's unusual right there.
As for keeping the A-10: I've previously stated my preference for CAS from someone up close with eyes on my field. When I stated that opinion on a forum of experienced folks, the younger ones (with much more recent combat experience) thought that just isn't the case anymore. These fellas were special ops and other ground soldiers who've used air support very recently. From what they have to say, the newest technologies have really changed things. Could be us old guys need to learn a few new things. Last time I was anywhere near anyone wanting to shoot me (that I know of) was late 1988.
ReplyDeleteinteresting. some of the young guys are saying that the A-10 does it like nothing else. these young guys are even USAF Tactical Air Controllers. additionally the only reason why this new form of CAS even works is because we're operating in the desert. no one is thinking about jungles or forests or even the arctic.
ReplyDeletetoo much is being decided because of one fight in one part of the world.
Alright, so lets say you decide to keep A-10. Awesome great CAS and all. But for how long? Proper replacement for A-10 is nowhere to be found. Not even in development.
ReplyDeleteI think there is a bigger problem at hand. Eventually, A-10 will have to retire - the airframe can only serve so much. Eventually, the costs of keeping A-10 operational will exceed any reasonable margin - the older the plane, the more expensive it is to keep it up in the air. Right now, A-10 are not that expensive yet, there are stockpiles of spare parts still around. Failure rates rise too. There will be a point in the future when A-10 will simply become inoperational without huge investments to completely take apart and rebuild the airframes. Metal fatigue and all. What then?
The AC-130U is more expensive than the Raptor? Wow.
ReplyDeleteSOF has a love for Predators with Hellfires because they can control them directly. But how survivable are Preds in contested air or against someone with even basic anti-air? How effective are Preds against anything bigger than a pickup truck?
ReplyDeleteWhile there is a lot to be said for UAVs and maybe the Marine Corps can even save some money by using UAVs instead of manned CAS, rolling slow and low and hung heavy is still the best possible CAS.
Solomon, I found this interesting article on CDR Salamander. Your views?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cnas.org/sites/default/files/publications-pdf/CNAS%20Avoiding%20Trivia_final_for%20web.pdf
I think we can all agree.. or at least we should.. that the A-10 is an excellent plane, both is performance and cost. No other plane now or the near future can do what it does as well and as cost effective.
ReplyDeleteThen there is the question if keeping the A-10 fleet at full capacity is the best thing for your nations defense in the future. Sadly agreement gets less total there, because some peopel believe diverting funds away from this and other places towards the F35 will ultimately serve your nation better.
Let me be clear: I think these people are wholly misguided, uniformed, biased or all of the above.
Lets not discard the huge value an extra set of human eyes right there with the people on the ground has.
ReplyDeleteAn interesting article with several points worth noting. Three that stood out involved China's goal of "mercantilist" expansion, the role the U.S. should play in the ongoing saga of ISIS, and the detachment of the American people "from the phenomenon of war over the past decade". "The size and strength of the All-Volunteer Force has shielded the citizenry as a whole from any sense of sacrifice". There were a number other points referenced including the evolution of the "two ground forces" which, as the author states, was never intended. Would be interested in views of others. Was worth the time to read.
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