A fan of SFW personnally, but it is a 70s tech and requires direct overflight. Also new production of any cluster munition of which SFW is, is now banned internationally. Current munitions are maintained but no new production.
As am I, I've used them in real life. Only the munition dispenser needs to fly over if the WCMD version (CBU-105) is used, which I have. The -97 would need to be dropped closer as it's unguided. As for the convention/treaty, we didn't sign it, when we said we'd abide by it there were all kinds of weasel words that give us an out, and cluster munitions that meet certain "safety" thresholds are still permitted. It basically comes down to we won't use them anymore against outmatched 3rd world adversaries, but if the balloon goes up against Russia or China then we'll use them. Russia and China didn't sign either so no surprise there's an out.
Anyhow, the point
@TomS and I were trying to make is that if you're adversary is kind enough to present you with a long column of armor, it's pretty efficient to have a platform that can carry 16 or 30 CBU-105's and drop them in a pattern that's aligned to said column, like the Bone or the BUFF, or one hopes the Raider. As mentioned above, I've tested that capability with the -105 on one of the afore mentioned platforms. I know, after all the Arab-Israeli wars, DS, OIF who'd be stupid enough in 2022 to leave a big nice long convoy sitting out in the open after all of the lessons not to do that...
F-35s carrying 500lbs or even the new guided 250lb SDB is a low density, low loiter, low result against moving, smartly spaced, armor advances.
The Marines seem to like it. Fifteen years ago we trained on how to use GBU-12's and GBU-54's against moving targets, I'd hope the Marines still know how to do that today. Since this is a USMC Doctrine thread I added the point about F-35B's since using a single -105 to take out a single tank is way more expensive than a single GBU-12 just to throw a fig leaf at staying on topic. Now, if there's a denied environment GBU-53 is certainly better than losing a plane/pilot.
Bombers are wasted of CAS.
Compared to what? It's always an opportunity cost situation, sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't. The folks making decisions still seem to think it's worth while, maybe they know something we don't...
As the DARPA description points out use from the air applies for MADFIREs. A bonus of countering SAMs from altitude one could conclude. A standoff, high altitude dedicated CAS able to loiter and single plink would is a future. OIF was long long ago.
additionally, SOCOM has not canceled the requirement for an aerial gun and if anything they want more of them. A single A-10, AC-130 replacement would satisfy some in AF/SOCOM/Joint community who are not part of the cult of the Lightning II.
If I had a dollar for every DARPA project that would change the world... Don't get me wrong, the stealth thing was pretty good, and the AI dogfighting things shows some promise (full disclosure, I went to grad school at Purdue with Animal and he later flew chase for a few of my missions before he went to TPS).