Originally Posted by
Evalu8ter
The cynic in me does wonder if the new A-X project is a way of calming waters as the A10 is divested and then, as if by magic, the money runs out, the A-X is scrapped and we're back to F-35s doing CAS.......
Well, the USAF has form on this. C-27J anyone? How could anyone trust their word after that?
The original A-X that spawned the A-10 was also a spoiler for the AH-56 Cheyanne. Unfortunately for the USAF, by the time the AH-56 was cancelled, the A-X had too much momentum to kill. There's a good paper on that, somewhere.
"the USAF had become increasingly vocal in its opposition to the Army's acquisition of an aircraft as capable as the Cheyenne, and continued to push for the cancellation of the AH-56 project."