The A-10 is an amazing aircraft but the airframes are pretty reid and replacing parts is a problem because many of them are not manufactured any more. Flying them on high-intensity schedules over salt water doesn't seem great for maintenance, and a relatively slow moving CAS aircraft flying over the sea seems like a magnet for heat-seeking missiles. Now the A-10 is built like a tank, but it seems less than ideal for this assignment.
The A-10 is an amazing aircraft but the airframes are pretty reid and replacing parts is a problem because many of them are not manufactured any more. Flying them on high-intensity schedules over salt water doesn't seem great for maintenance, and a relatively slow moving CAS aircraft flying over the sea seems like a magnet for heat-seeking missiles. Now the A-10 is built like a tank, but it seems less than ideal for this assignment.