As several contributors have indicated ISTR USAF AX motivation was, in part at least, driven to head off U.S. Army and Marine Corps aspirations vis-a-vis CAS.
For USAF problems regarding U.S.Army fixed wing development , think back to the issues behind the very short life of the DHC 5 Buffalo in US Army service.
Of course these turf squabbles are not limited to the armed forces of the United States.......