Stuff like this (the plane bringing the pilot back home) demonstrates the need for such a rugged close support attack plane. The F35 is too overpriced for the task, the leadership would not risk that much money on ground troops. You don’t send a Ferarri where a beater 1-ton farm truck will do the job better.

The Warthog needs to be kept operational until an equivalent and superior frame can supplant it. The easiest fix might just be to let the Army have a few fixed wing aircraft roles if their task is primary troop support.