"Paul J. Adam" wrote:

In message , Charles Gray
writes
To put it a different way, the model of a A-10 style aircraft,
equipped with cannon and guns, providing close air support and
anti-armor firepower to the troops?

Yes, just as there's a place for the AC-130 and similar aircraft. The
A-10 isn't using the GAU-8A as a primary weapon (and never has in
action) but does find it useful on a number of occasions where mission
requires and threat permits.

snip

I don't think you want to make such a blanket statement about the GAU-8,
Paul. From the April 14th, 2003 AvLeak, article "Beyond Baghdad", by Robert
Wall:

"One of the primary aircraft used over Baghdad has been the Air Force's
A-10, which operates more than 50 of them from a base here [in Kuwait] and a
site in southern Iraq [almost certainly Tallil]. 'The A-10s provide the
surgical weaponry required for successful urban close air support,' said
Col. Cesar Rodriguez, operations officer for the 332 Air Expeditionary
Wing. The aircraft's 30-mm gun is the primary weapon, although
infrared-guided AGM-65G-2 Mavericks are also frequently being employed."

Not a direct quote, but presumably Wall was paraphrasing what Rodriguez or
others had told him. Certainly the gun was widely used in Baghdad.

Guy