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by fnordfnordfnord 4002 days ago
I agree. I think the F-35-can-do-CAS people contend that the F-35 can do CAS from altitude (above MANPADS range) with smart-munitions, but I doubt these claims for a number of reasons including availability/sortie-rate, ie cost per sortie, mission turnaround time, etc.
1 comments
dragonwriter 4002 days ago
> I think the F-35-can-do-CAS people contend that the F-35 can do CAS from altitude (above MANPADS range) with smart-munitions,

Stand-off attack with smart munitions is a different role than CAS; so this isn't so much F-35-can-do-CAS as F-35-is-sufficient-because-CAS-is-not-necessary.

EDIT: to be clear, I am characterizing the position here, not endorsing it.

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fnordfnordfnord 4002 days ago
> F-35-is-sufficient-because-CAS-is-not-necessary.

It's been said before, turned out to be untrue before, and I see no reason to believe it this time. Until someone finds me some credible infantrymen who say that CAS isn't needed, I will not support putting boots on the ground without a strong CAS game.

EDIT: re: EDIT: Fair enough! Don't worry, I haven't downvoted you or anything like that. As far as that position, I feel like it is maybe not the most honest one from some folks since the F-35 has been touted by some as a platform with which to do CAS.

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