Best use of Air Power?

[deadsunwheel]

The modern battle field in Flashpoint Campaigns is insanely deadly for air assets!

Rarely do I see an A-10 or SU-25 make it to target without being blasted out of the sky by a canopy of air defense. As such they typically end up being used as the final nail in the coffin against already ground down areas. Trying to use them to punch a hole in a fresh unit seems to be just asking for trouble. The lesson FRC:RS seems to be telling is a very different one than that of Tac Air and Air & Armor. Not that this is a bad thing.

I recall reading a round table discussion of retired cold war generals of both sides from the 80's talking about what they thought a conventional war might have looked like. One thing both sides appeared to agree on was that the first few days would see the loss of about two thirds of their respective air power. There may have been a bit of professional rivalry between the army and air force poking through, but the way it was explained did not seem unreasonable.

Has anyone else had similar experience using their air forces? If not how do you manage to make them survive and hit their targets? To be sure when they do get through they do hit hard.

[fvianello]

Most simulations agree on the lethality of a high intensity modern battlefield for air power - particularly in Close Air Support missions.
For example, in the wonderful "The Next War" by SPI, sending airplanes in combat support mission was almost suicidal most of times; only helicopters have a decent chance of survival.

[cbelva]

The key is to locate the enemies air defenses and hit them before you bring in your air power. When I have air assets to use, I make enemy AD units a priority for my arty.