Editing Combat Aircraft (section)

===Ground-Attack===
Ground attack airplanes are used for supporting ground operations by providing close-air support to friendly infantry. Most such aircraft are helicopters, as their ability to hover and stay close to the ground makes them better suited for this role. However, some fixed-wing aircraft do exist as well.

*'''Fixed-Wing Attack Aircraft''': Originally used to harass and demoralize enemy ground forces, as technology improved, attack aircraft became more accurate and survivable to enemy fire. They started to vanish during the Cold War as helicopters and strike fighters took over their role, but a small number managed to find their niche as they could be deployed more rapidly than helicopters, while taking more damage and being able to loiter longer than strike fighters (which oftentimes are moving too fast to get more than one hit onto a target area). The [[A-10 Warthog]] is considered the standard for modern fixed-wing attack aircraft, possessing a tank-busting Gatling gun that goes BRRRRRRRRRRRRRT and a heavily protected cockpit that is often called an "armored bathtub." They are also one of the most effective counters to Attack Helicopters and carry less risk compared to Man-portable air-defense systems and anti air guns.  Something that other fixed wing aircraft just suck at. Remote controlled or even autonomous drones are likely going to be next step of evolution for this archetype.
*'''Wild Weasel''': A ground attack support craft, a Wild Weasel's job is to be a [[DISTRACTION CARNIFEX]], get targeted by enemy radar and ground to air weapons, then either follow the targeting beam back to the source or direct an ally to do the same. Famously the motto for American Wild Weasels units is "''YGBSM''" or ''"You gotta be shitting me"'' based on what somebody who was told his job was to be a designated target said in response.  The equipment for the job includes additional detectors, lots of countermeasures, and very fast special purpose missiles.
** A role that has developed in Late August-Early September 2022 is that the mere presence of a Wild Weasel with Anti-Radiation Missiles in an area forces enemy AA to choose between radar coverage and risking an ARM strike or turning off their radars and allowing drones to come out hunting.
*'''Attack Helicopters''': <s>[[meme|Something that people may sexually identify as]]</s> During the Vietnam war, some army generals figured out that if sticking a few machineguns onto a [[UH-1 Huey]] turned it into a flying troop transport, adding some armor and sticking some rockets and autocannons onto a helicopter would turn it into a flying tank. This lead to the development of the [[AH-1 Cobra Attack Helicopter]], which the majority of modern attack helicopters take after design-wise; narrow profile, pilot behind gunner position, chin-mounted gun and weapon pods mounted on wingtips, etc. A helicopter can also avoid enemy radar more easily by hovering closer to the ground, though they can still be vulnerable to small arms fire; particularly if the tail gets shot out. A non-stationary helicopter is still hard to hit though with anything other than rapid-fire cannons or guided missiles.
*'''Transport Helicopter''': Much like land-based Armored Personnel Carriers, transport helicopters can ferry soldiers to distant battlefields with relative speed. While they are generally not frontline combat aircraft, they are often armed enough with doorguns and sometimes rockets to clear out and secure landing zones to provide infantry the space they need to infiltrate and exfiltrate as needed. Some heavy-lifting helicopters may even be able to tow along armored vehicles for additional support.
*'''Gunship''': Whereas "gunship" will often refer to a heavily-armed helicopter, fixed-wing gunships are quite rare, but also awe-inspiring. Basically, a gunship mounts multiple guns on its side and strafes enemy ground targets by soaking them in fire. Only a handful of such aircraft have existed, all of which from converted aircraft; the G and H variants of the WWII [[wikipedia:B-25|B-25 medium bomber]] had been converted to mount at least a ''dozen'' .50 cal machineguns and a 75mm cannon for anti-ship warfare, while the [[wikipedia:AC-47|AC-47]] mounted three miniguns on its side. The latest one is the [[wikipedia:AC-130|AC-130]], which mounts a 105mm cannon and various autocannons or rotary guns for total annihilation. The downside though is that such aircraft are quite vulnerable to enemy aircraft and AA weapons, making them only useful if friendly forces have already taken control of the airspace which makes them perfect for the 21st century chronic low intensity insurgency fighting.
*'''UCAVs''': Drones have proven capable in peer-to-peer warfare with the TB-2 mauling Russian convoys and air defense units in Ukraine, to the point of getting a song written in it's name. They are definitely here to stay for ground attack in some way. The thing to remember about drones is that they can straddle the line between plane and missile. So the TB-2 is a plane, but a loitering munition is a smart missile that just orbits looking for a target until give the command to do it's best Kamikaze impression.