Originally Posted by
Deuce130
That depends. You certainly can't make a blanket statement like that and expect it to go unchallenged. Last time I checked, the Gunship is great in a low to no threat environment, and is currently in skyrocketing demand in theater. Everyone and their brother wants a Gunpig along for the ride. Ratchet up the threat a little and the Gunship is simply another target to shoot at.
My response was to Cooperd's that a fighter is the preferred choice for the guys on the ground when they're doing serious work. He clarified that he was speaking first to UAV's--that SOF are going to want something besides a UAV at their disposal when it comes to providing CAS. I still stand by my assertion that the serious guys we've worked with are going to want gunships first and foremost. Getting what they want, well now that's a different matter. The threat may not allow for a gunship until it's been cleared. I'll also add that if they want a big boom they're going to ask for someone else. But if they want CAS (which is how, perhaps with bias, I read his post) the platform of choice is the gunship. I hasten to add that perhaps I owe an apology here for pointing out something that is pretty much a given (e.g. MOTO).