Originally Posted by
BEagle
I gather that the MiG-29 only carries about 100 rounds. But the advent of highly accurate gun sights, plus the excellent combined IRSTS / laser ranger gives the aircraft the capability of a 'single round kill'.
No need these days to blatter away with 4 x 30mm Aden hoping that you might get some rounds near enough to the opposition to take it out.
Salient points, Beagle, but, when you consider that the F-35A is intended as a CAS platform fit to replace the magnificent A-10, the F-35A's rather miserly 180 rounds of 25mm vs the A-10's, by comparison, somewhat extravagant maximum of 1,350 rounds of 30mm (types various), it certainly tells a tale insofar as combat persistence with troops in contact...
-RP