Bargain basement A-10

[penzoil3]

This is funny.
 www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Cropduster-Attack-Aircraft-In-Service-228453-1.html

[spud]

Hmmmm,
the Air Force has been trying figure out how to get rid of the A10 for ages cause its "not pretty" but they have nothing else that can do its job. Perhaps they can now 'pick on' an even slower attack A/C. personally I like the capabilities shown in the video but foresee a bit of complications always trying to have the 'latest and greatest' weapons system the do everything but actually hit a target. There are many cases of where plain old iron bombs etc. are effective and a hell of a lot cheaper.
One item mentioned was the 10 hr. loiter time whereas most aviators have an 8 hour ass!

[Sandy]

There's a lot of debate going on comparing the Archangel (the converted crop-duster) with larger and more capable (but more expensive) ships like the AT-6 Texan/Coyote and the Embraer A-29 Super Tocano.

(from a random Google search, "warisboring.com")

The A-29 Super Tucano and AT-6C Coyote are the most advanced aircraft developmentally. The AT-6B is a fencer, benefiting from commonality with the A-10C and AT-6C and a very robust communications and data array. The A-29 is a bruiser, with a higher, heavier airframe and a slightly heavier stores load. Both use the PT-6A-68 turboprop delivering 1,600 shaft horsepower.

Both aircraft, combat loaded, are comparable in power-to-weight ratio and wing loading to a combat-loaded P-47D. Both meet all requirements of the Buy American Act — unit costs are $11–14 million per unit, combat equipped, for a squadron-sized buy with support and training devices.

Both the Super Tucano and Texan/Coyote are in use for exactly the stated mission set with several Air Forces around the world. They're proven and effective. Converting a crop-duster for armed attack may be a fine option for the seriously penny-pinched third-world country, but I can't see how such a ship would survive for long in even a counter-insurgency role.