Originally Posted by
CONSO
As to the F-35 DOALL- its just the TFX( F-111) all over again. It might be useful as high cover at long range for the A-10- F-16- f-18 types- but to risk it on a ground mission without absolute air superiority and ground to air missiles supressed is just not realistic -IMHO
CONSO, my last experience with close air support was over a decade ago, but here's how it played out when people were shooting:
1. a lot of the grim and gritty support was by attack helicopters in the danger close range.
2. Some (for my taste, not enough) was by that lovely beast the A-10
3. No small amount was various F series aircraft that didn't come in low to release weapons. Between LGB's and GPS guided munitions, you can provide what the ground commander needs without diving into the dirt. Technology advances.
4. There are some mortars and other ground launched munitions that now mimic guided airborne weapons.
All said and done, the call for fire has a lot of ways to peel the onion (even a decade ago) and moreso since. For example,
the old standard 2.75" rockets now have a mod that allows them to be guided rather than ballistic munitions. (Attack helicopter folks really appreciate that, not sure how many suck and blow sorts will want that load out).