Flyco wrote: ↑26 Sep 2020, 09:33 I couldn't agree that these rockets are going to be more effective on the F-16 than on the A-10. They allow the A-10 to launch at 5 nm, and continue at 200-220 kias for a further 2 nm before starting a gentle turn away. Impact will occur as the A-10 is around 45 degrees from the line of run-in and still around 2-3 nm range, outside the effective range of cannon and machine-gun fire, including the ZSU. At around 200-400 ft agl, they will also make a very tricky target for a short range SAM (manpad, Osa, Tunguska etc).

If I promise never try to insist on being allowed to provide CAP, for the F-14, F-15, F-16, F-18 etc, will fast-jet pilots insist on being mis-used to carry out low-level, impromptu, CAS, when the A-10C is available with twice the number of weapons and three times to low level endurance? It sounds a bit like 'willy-waving' to me. And this is without asking why if the F-16 is so effective it is never available to fly missions with the rest of the 'big-boys'. (Cheap shot I know, but I am cheap, as is the A-10 compared to the F-16).

When we get them, I will set up some suitable targets in a valley, under a 2000 ft cloud-base, load an A-10 with 84 rockets (I will leave the other pylons unoccupied) and we will see how an F-?? fares in comparison.