Close air support (CAS) is about providing airborne firepower for troops on the ground who may be operating in close proximity to the enemy. For some time now, the Army has relied on Air Force A-10s to supply CAS for a variety of reasons. But partly out of concern about survivability in future conflicts, the Air Force now plans to retire the aircraft. This report examines the consequences for the Army and the alternatives it may wish to pursue.

Defining an Approach for Future Close Air Support Capability

John Matsumura, John Gordon IV, Randall Steeb

ResearchPublished Jan 30, 2017

Cover: Defining an Approach for Future Close Air Support Capability
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Close air support (CAS) is about providing airborne firepower for troops on the ground who may be operating in close proximity to the enemy. This proximity increases the value of such characteristics as accuracy and responsiveness. Flying at lower altitudes not only increases accuracy and speed of weapon delivery, but its show of force also affects morale on both sides. And fixed-wing aircraft, such as the A-10, are more survivable than rotary-wing aircraft under certain conditions. For some time now, the Army has relied heavily on the Air Force to provide fixed-wing CAS. The A-10 has been a mainstay of these efforts, but the Air Force has become concerned both about the cost of maintaining the aircraft and about its survivability in environments increasingly more advanced than those it has encountered in recent years. The service is planning to retire the A-10 and replace it with other aircraft, such as the F-16, in CAS roles. These aircraft may not provide all the same benefits. The Army asked RAND to look at the consequences of this decision, examine alternatives, and offer recommendations. One recommendation the authors make is that, regardless of the outcome of assessments of alternatives' capabilities, a viable replacement should be fielded before the A-10 itself is retired.

Key Findings

Close Air Support (CAS) Backs up Troops on the Ground and Affects Morale

  • The A-10 operates at relatively low altitudes. It uses its 30mm cannons more frequently than any other weapon. These allow greater accuracy than bombs, which is of particular value when the troops being supported are in close proximity to the enemy.
  • Low-flying aircraft are also highly visible. This boosts friendly morale and intimidates enemies.
  • In recent conflicts, the air defenses have been unsophisticated, mostly consisting of small arms, rocket-propelled grenades, and some shoulder-fired missiles.

Other Assets that Perform the Mission, but There Are Drawbacks

  • The USAF has other options for performing the CAS mission, including F-15Es; F-16s; B-1s; and, soon, the F-35A.
  • Attack helicopters could provide CAS, but are, like all aircraft, also vulnerable at low altitudes.
  • Other alternatives include converting A-10s to remotely piloted aircraft or developing a specialized unmanned aerial vehicle for the purpose.

Costs Are an Additional Concern

  • The Air Force expects to save about $3.7 billion over the next five years.
  • But this does not account for the costs of conversions or alternative aircraft.

Recommendations

  • Given the importance of close air support (CAS) to joint operations, future CAS requirements should be carefully reexamined in much the same way they were before the A-10 was developed.
  • The current plan for CAS capabilities should be adopted if it can meet the CAS requirements that emerge from this process and if a cost-based analysis validates the cost reductions the Air Force envisions.
  • However, if the plan does not meet future CAS requirements or would cost more than alternatives that provide similar CAS capabilities, the current plan for providing CAS should be reconsidered.
  • Regardless of the outcome of the requirements reexamination process and the subsequent capabilities and cost-based analyses, we recommend fielding a viable replacement CAS capability before eliminating the capability the A-10 provides to minimize risk to ground forces.

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RAND Style Manual
Matsumura, John, John Gordon IV, and Randall Steeb, Defining an Approach for Future Close Air Support Capability, RAND Corporation, RR-1233-A, 2017. As of September 11, 2024: https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR1233.html
Chicago Manual of Style
Matsumura, John, John Gordon IV, and Randall Steeb, Defining an Approach for Future Close Air Support Capability. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2017. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR1233.html.
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This research was sponsored by the Army G-8, specifically the Army QDR Office, and was conducted by the Forces and Logistics Program within the RAND Arroyo Center.

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