the a-29 is really intended for US COIN partner nations (read: not first world militaries). the aircraft is much less survivable than an a-10 (which is already

the a-29 is really intended for US COIN partner nations (read: not first world militaries). the aircraft is much less survivable than an a-10 (which is already more vulnerable than people tend to think), making it inappropriate for most direct applications by US forces. edit: to be clear, the US is looking at the a-29; they just don't want to risk their own pilots in it.