Is there a place for Traditional CAS in the 21st century?

"Charles Gray" wrote in message
...
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?
Or have things changed enought (cheap PGM's, UCAV's, etc) to where
that model is more along the line of a Battleship in 1945-- no matter
how effective at its job, there are now things that can do the job
just as well or better, and are more flexible to boot?

You might take your answer from the USAF. They are planning now to upgrade a
number of A-10's for continued service, since the F-35A/B's won't be
available in operational strength until sometime early in the next decade.
So they definitely see a place for the A-10 in the "CAS toolbox" for the
immediate future.

Yes, the CAS mission has seen significant changes over the past decade or
so, with affordable, versatile PGM's bringing aircraft that were never
really before thought of as major CAS players into the mix. Note the use of
the word "mix"; the major watchword for now and in the foreseeable future is
"versatility", and to ensure they can acheive that the USAF will field a
wide range of assets that can perform CAS missions. Their recent decision to
pursue the STOVL F-35B variant as part of their JSF buy is another example
of seeking greater versatility for the force as a whole. Likewise, many of
these same platforms will also be capable of performing BAI, or RESCAP, etc.
All contributing to greater versatility, both in regards to the individual
components and the entire force.

Brooks