Typerated
With ref to post #26
If you were in an armoured vehicle or hiding behind a compound wall which aircraft would you prefer to have safe you, an F15 or an A10?
Bearing in mind one of the above uses depleted uranium rounds I'd also suggest that even if an A10 strafed you and missed you would still be better leaving the area. I know the use of DU is a double edged sword but the 30mm DU round will come inside the compound and kill you whereas the rounds from the F15 will just make a mess of the walls.
It's been a wake up call for NATO that mud walls are proof against 30mm rounds from things like the main armament on AFVs but some 30mm rounds are more equal than others
I'm clearly not saying the F15 isn't a good CAS platform, but the chaps on the ground know what they prefer to help them out.
I'm sure the USAF top brass will kill the A10 sooner or later using the 'one mission' argument. The fact there are other single mission aircraft on the books never seems to get a mention though