How did they market the F-16 when there were only single-seaters or even before there were any built?

Several countries (Israel and Japan) have asked for the F-22 without it ever being submitted. How?

The answer to both is that customers trust in the ability of the US to produce fighters to match the paper spec.

By the time a viable competitor appears, potential export customers will have not only operational (and possibly combat tested) US jets to look at, but the experience of Partner and FMS customers to draw on.

It would be hideously more expensive due to all the setup costs related to building all the parts, assembly facilities, training, etc that can only be spread across 42 planes.

At least the costs related to the F-2 were planed to be spread across a few hundred planes.

Um, I know there is no OV-10X variant… just like there was no AT-6 at the time it was proposed.

Since the OV-10X variant only exists on paper, they when I say “it has”, I obviously mean the proposed variant.

You guys read too much into other people’s posts 😉

I was not pushing for the OV-10(X) for the Afgan buy (should go to the Super T), but as a COIN aircraft for the USAF.

IMHO the OV-10 is the most versatile, (4×50 cal MGs, cargo area and 7 hardpoints), survivable (twin engine) and can even do a mini-Spectre with an M230 (my pref over the 20mm) in the belly turret.

A couple of upgrades can make it even better:
1. Upgrade engine & props
2. Kevlar for the cockpit
3. If they make laser-guided shells cheap enough, HOLY KRAP the Spectre mission would be sick.

How much extra range over base (or total range if known) do the F-15I’s FAST packs give it?

–edit, nevermind… I got the F-15C (Baz) and the F-15I (Ra’am) mixed up as they both had CFTs.

Nap-of-earth, pop-up, fire off anti-radar or PGM. Then use the gun.

The F-35 releases its 2 JDAMS. Then goes home. I’m sure the troops are happy.

NOW will get an A-10 shot down in a denied environment long before it get’s close enough to use its gun.

btw, the F-25 can carry 8 SDBs (or JAGMs likely) internally which are more appropriate than 2k JDAMS for CAS.

On the Su-25 :

The upgraded Su-25M is just like the A-10C, an upgraded version of an old design. Nobody is designing a NEW big-gun CAS platform.

Who gives a **** if your reliably less than 5 yards* away with a gun if your PGM doesn’t work and is 500 yards away?

Again with comparing the rarest CEP of a PGM with the best CEP of a gun?

Cover?
Please tell me – behind what?

Buildings, bunkers, trenches, etc. They can also scatter which again limits the effectiveness of the gun run.

Their chances of survival are better while taking cover from the GAU-8 that they know is coming than from a pgm that they do not know is on its way.