Still, the F-35 may not keep the close air support mission for long. The F-35 can carry more bombs on wing mounted pylons, but doing so increases the jet’s visibility to enemy radars. The F-35, on the other hand, is armed with the GAU-22 “Equalizer” 25-millimeter gun (with just 181 rounds) and can carry just two laser- or satellite-guided bombs in its internal payload bays. The A-10 Thunderbolt bristles with weapons, from the GAU-8/A Avenger 30-millimeter Gatling gun (with 1,174 rounds) to Maverick missiles, 70-millimeter rockets, and guided and unguided bombs. The problem with the F-35 in the close air support role is that it lacks armament. Its sensors and communications allow it to collect data on ground threats so the pilot can effectively counter them. The F-35 is faster and more responsive to the fast-moving ground battle, and its stealthy qualities make it less of a target. In one respect that’s the correct decision-despite America’s fondness for the A-10, it would probably get shot down in droves by a competent enemy fielding modern air defense guns and missiles. What will replace the A-10 in the skies over America’s “peer” adversaries? The F-35, of course. Think Afghanistan or Somalia-not Russia or China.

Think insurgents driving pickup trucks with machine guns bolted to the bed, plus a shoulder-fired surface-to-air missile or two. troops over “lightly contested or defended” air space. Instead, the Warthog is now relegated to supporting U.S. These include the SA-11 “Buk” surface-to-air missile system, SA-15 “Tor” surface-to-missile system, SA-24 “Needle” shoulder-fired surface-to-air missile, and the truck-mounted SA-22 “Pantsir-1” missile system. The Air Force is convinced the aircraft, designed to unleash missiles, rockets, bombs, and its GAU-8/A 30-millimeter Gatling gun is no longer able to fly over “double digit” air defenses. The A-10 is being kept on one condition, though: it is no longer designated to fly over heavily defended battlefields. By retiring older planes, the Air Force hopes to free up funds to buy and support new planes. Older planes are typically more expensive to keep in service, as sourcing spares and the lifespan of key parts becomes an issue. All of the manned aircraft are older planes, particularly the aerial refueling tankers, some of which entered service in the 1950s.

In addition to the A-10s, the Air Force plans to cut 29 aerial refueling tankers, 24 C-130H transport aircraft (the current version is the -J), 24 Global Hawks drones, and 17 B-1B Lancer bombers.

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