Rocket lobbing has proven itself largely safe in positional warfare(loss per sortie), and in maneuver warfare, the higher range doesn't compensate for situations when you just run into things/threats. Furthermore, it's much harder to produce legacy NLOS solutions at scale(Kh-39 is such a weapon)
The problem is that unguided rockets are not overly effective, and, more importantly, achieve meaningful effects only with salvo fire, meaning only one effective engagement per sortie.
So instead of volley lobbing conventional rockets at extended ranges, you want to volley lob guided rockets?
You are much better off using UCAVs for low altitude CAS in the modern age. Manned fastjets should take on a different role more suitable to their specific strengths.
Which are mainly speed, payload and flexibility. I see drones acting as the workhorse for future CAS, with heavy twin seaters like the J16 hanging back acting as close controller and also QRF in the event of unexpectedly strong enemy presence or defences.
I struggle to see a role for the likes of the Su25 and A10 on the modern battlefield, because of the massively increased threat environment, and the availability of cheap and disposable unmanned platforms.
The only scenario I can see the likes of the Su25 and A10 actually having a worthwhile role to play is after the proliferation of laser and other energy based air defences.
Such defences will likely become a hard counter to drones and missiles of all shapes and sizes, but will likely have limited energy output that will struggle against the kind of heavy armour plating traditional CAS fastjets have. So an A10/Su25 doing a gun strafe might be the most effective means of taking out enemy laser and microwave CIWS and clear the way for drones to come in and do their thing again that doesn’t involve using high end systems like Iskanders.
But that is very much a niche scenario and even then the A10 and Su25 would be shoehorned into that role. If such laser based defences become a serious problem, the logical counter is to develop a heavily armoured drone with a giant cannon that can do gun kills on it without the massive risk to human pilots.
