And even that’s pushing it. Yes the airframe is fairly resilient and is designed to withstand small arms fire, 20mm ground fire, or maybe one MANPAD hit. But at the end of the day all that means is that a pilot could make a few extra passes before getting obliterated by a SPAA SAM or intercepting fighter.
This also answers the question of why they’re sending in A10s. They’re literally cheaper than reaper drones!
I remember all my life hearing they where literally unable to be shot down
“””Unable to be shot down by MANPADs”””
And even that’s pushing it. Yes the airframe is fairly resilient and is designed to withstand small arms fire, 20mm ground fire, or maybe one MANPAD hit. But at the end of the day all that means is that a pilot could make a few extra passes before getting obliterated by a SPAA SAM or intercepting fighter.
This is because of stockpiles from the bush’s “iraqi wmd” adventurism from 25+ years ago, right?
That might be the reason.