I like this picture of the GAU-8 cannon outside of the plane, next to a VW bug. Gives a notion of scale that's hard to get in other pictures of the A10.
That being the case: advances in Tank Armor over the last 40 years have made the Air Force question the A10's ability to kill a tank (its original purpose).
From what I can tell, the A-10 has become a hellfire or even JDAM slinging platform like every other plane, the big advantage, if any, is loiter time. It sounds like they've found it easier stay far away from anyone shooting lead or manpads, and puke out longer range standoff weapons
I was driving on a highway once here. And pulled off to get some gasoline. At the gas station, there was a semi truck with a huge object on it, and two military people were filling up the truck. I asked them what it was and they said that it was the cannon for the Warthog and we talked about it. I asked if they were not scared that someone would steal it from them. They laughed and said take it, that's ok. But it needs special depleted uranium rounds, so unless you can get them, how are you going to fire it? And secondly, how are you going to maneuver it around to actually use it? I asked him, in jest, that I could just strap it onto the top of my car to use it. They started laughing. They said that if you fired it, your ca would be going backwards at a high rate of speed.
My friend and I spent about 5 minutes talking to them after that.
https://i.insider.com/579a52aa88e4a79f178bb61a?width=1200&fo...