[ryao]

The problem with precision munitions is that you cannot manufacture, transport and drop enough of them to achieve as much as you can with bullets. The country footing the bill is likely to be impoverished by them if used at any large scale. :/

You need to be close to the ground if using bullets.

[Manuel_D]

As I point out in another comment, the cost of a laser guided bomb is $20K [1]. Less than the operational cost of flying the f-16 for one hour [2]. The idea that precision munitions are prohibitively expensive to use for close air support is a fantasy.

1. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/GBU-12_Paveway_II

2. https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/aviation/a41956551...

[ryao]

Now I think the F-16 is prohibitively expensive. Interestingly, the A-10 costs $19,000 per hour to fly too:

https://www.military.com/equipment/military-aircraft/everyth...

Lets say we have 6 targets and a 2 hour mission. Let us assume that the F-16 and A-10 both cost $20,000 per hour to fly. That would be $160,000 for the F-16. Lets assume the ammunition for the warthog costs $1 each. That would be $40,780 for the A-10.

Oh, and the F-35 costs about $40,000 per hour to fly. For that, the same mission costs $200,000.

> The idea that precision munitions are prohibitively expensive to use for close air support is a fantasy.

Unfortunately, the math does not favor those munitions.

[Manuel_D]

> Lets assume the ammunition for the warthog costs $1 each.

Except they don't don't $1 each. They cost $136 : https://www.quora.com/How-much-does-a-30mm-GAU-8-round-cost

That's not counting wear on the gun.

And if flying low to strafe results in even one additional loss, all those savings are even more than offset.

But more importantly, this whole comparison is moot because for every hour flying a combat mission, a pilot is flying many more hours in training.

[ryao]

> Regular rounds fired by the GAU 8 also known as PGU-14/B Armour Piercing Incendiary Depleted Uranium Rounds comes at a hefty price of 136.70 dollars a pop.

While those are pricy, the military does not fire those from the A-10 anymore:

> Armor-piercing incendiary rounds “go through soft targets very cleanly and don’t do much damage unless they hit a critical component,” said the former A-10 pilot. “The type of targets in Iraq and Afghanistan did not warrant using API.”

https://taskandpurpose.com/news/a-10-warthog-armor-piercing-...

Non-incendiary rounds are much cheaper. I cannot find an exact price on it, but I imagine that they are negligible in comparison to fuel.

[Manuel_D]

They don't cost a dollar a round, I'll guarantee you. Standard ball .50 BMG ammo is $3 a round on a good day, incindiary is even more than that. I'm very curious how you got this figure of $1 for armor piercing incindiary 30mm shells.

[ryao]

Whatever the cost is, expect it to be neligible, such that even if it were $10 per round, it would not make a difference.

That being said, I do not think the cost to the USAF is public. I picked $1 since no figure that was reasonable would make any difference.

[ryao]

> And if flying low to strafe results in even one additional loss, all those savings are even more than offset.

If flying low saves the life of 1 additional solider, it would be worth it.

[Manuel_D]

And conversely, if precision munitions saves the life of 1 more soldier than strafing, it's worth it.

[ryao]

An A-10 could drop those in addition to firing bullets. Intentionally limiting capabilities by getting rid of the A-10 in favor of the F-35 would be endangering lives. :/

[valec]

they're cheaper than replacing a plane and especially its pilot I can assure you that