The Air Force’s logic that the A-10 is vulnerable in a contested environment is specious! Isn’t the F-16 just as vulnerable, if not more so? It has one engine vs two on the A-10. A-10’s have returned all shot up like WWII bombers, their pilots safe in their armored bathtub. F-16’s, not so much.
The F-16 can drop small diameter bombs from altitude in close air support of troops, but can’t put bullets close to those troops with the same devastating effect. The Air Force should ask those pilots who have flown both jets in combat, and I would bet they would choose the A-10 if they had to get down in the weeds.