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"If we invest in tools to defeat ISIS, we'll get crushed by peer enemies" As I see it, the only peer enemies of the US are Russia and China. As both of these
by jleyank 12y ago
"If we invest in tools to defeat ISIS, we'll get crushed by peer enemies"
As I see it, the only peer enemies of the US are Russia and China. As both of these countries are nuclear powers, war between any of them risks terrible escalation. FWIW, the A-10 was designed to fight Soviet tanks in Europe, and I doubt the top armour of tanks has thickened that much since then. And there's lots of APC's and other semi-hard targets that would be killed just fine.
Better 10-100 A-10's than 5-10 F-35's. For pretty much any conflict without nuclear overtones the loiter time, inherent survivability and weapon delivery systems on the "old, boring" A-10 is the way to go.
- hackuser 12y ago> the A-10 was designed to fight Soviet tanks in Europe, and I doubt the top armour of tanks has thickened that much since then. And there's lots of APC's and other semi-hard targets that would be killed just fine. From what I understand, the A-10 was designed for that role as it was envisioned in the 1970s, 40 years ago. The air defenses have greatly improved since then and planes like the A-10 won't get near the battlefield.
- mcguire 12y agoIn Europe, perhaps. In Syria?
- tim333 12y agoThey took out about 900 mostly Russian made tanks in Gulf War 1. Plus over 3000 other targets. Four A-10s were lost, shot down by surface to air missiles of the large, non man portable variety. A-10s are effective if you can remove the serious air defences first. Syria apparently has a lot of serious air defences which could be taken out but it would be a major effort.