Sounds like a fair trade
Just read that the USAF plans to replace its 350~ remaining A-10 “Warthog” close air support attack aircraft, which have proven reliable across the past thirty years…..
We give you the A-10 at full Brrrrrt…(The Idaho Air National Guard supports Exercise Combined Resolve II with A-10 Thunderbolt II jets at the Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, May 19, 2014. U.S. Army photo by Visual Information Specialist Gertrud Zach/Released)
With 256 MQ-9A Reapers…which are good for 1500# of ordinance but can remain on target for 14-42 hours depending on load and version. Which would you rather see flying above you if you were a Joe or Devil on the ground?
The Reaper!
Having worked with A10’s while I was with the 82nd I can tell you ground support is more then just a laser guided bomb from an unseen drone.
Nothing will get the bad guys running faster then having one of these bad boys show up, and that Burrrrt is one hell of an equalizer.
Here’s an idea, give the A10’s to the Army and let them do their own ground support, I knew a number of officers that have been fighting for that for years.