Tank busting elements played a crucial role in World War 2 where tank-on-tank battles often times moved the war in one direction of the other. An answer was needed and that answer would become the Fairchild Republic A-10 tank-killing "Warthog". Helicopter gunships provided some solution to the problem but no true dedicated systems existed - apart from say the prop-driven Douglas A-1 Skyraider. Additionally, these aircraft held little in the way of dealing directly with heavy armor systems, their 20mm Vulcan cannons useful in engaging other aircraft and perhaps even light-skinned vehicles. The Vietnam War showcased such a need for the United States Air Force, where their thirsty, high-flying jets could do little in the way of directly supporting troops in contact with the enemy by roaming on station until called and then heading in to deliver payloads with pinpoint accuracy.
The terminology inherent in "Close-Air Support" was generally defined in a variety of ways by each respective nation (and perhaps further viewed differently by even individual commanders). The A-10 Thunderbolt II was designed exclusively to fulfill the Close-Air Support (CAS) role from the outset, perhaps matched only in scope by the Soviet/Russian Sukhoi Su-25 "Frogfoot".
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