The A10 is pretty rugged. Small arms probably won't take it down. A hand held ground to air might, depending on where and if it gets a hit. I believe the A10 has chaff, flares and the like, not to mention the externally mounted engines.
From what I've read, they can fly home, or at least away, with only one working engine.
No solution is perfect. After all, with artillery, you have to have a battery close enough to fire, not to mention an FO who knows what he's doing to call rounds in on target, etc.
Originally Posted By: IndyIan
Originally Posted By: javacontour
The A10 and that gun have to be a very cost effective way of accomplishing the mission compared to an F22 or F35 and the million dollar missile.
I mean the Army could do it with MLRS as well. Pick out a grid square and launch the series of rockets. Nothing in that 1k by 1k box would be alive after the dust settles.
Isn't the issue that the A10 is vulnerable to small SAM's or even a large caliber machine gun? Without significant ground forces in the area, I'd assume a downed pilot wouldn't have much chance to be recovered. Or I suppose as well, that eyes on the ground often are needed for accurate targeting, or identifying a trap to down a plane or two...