Posted on 07/22/2025 6:46:09 AM PDT by Red Badger
A combination of budget constraints, strategic realignment, and the evolution of warfare in the decades since the A-10’s debut has contributed to the aircraft’s retirement. After four decades of service, the renowned A-10 Warthog is finally slated for full retirement. After years of indecision, the US Air Force now plans to retire the A-10 fleet before the end of FY2026. The last A-10 is expected to make its last flight before October 2026, a sad day in aviation that will mark the end of an aircraft that aviation enthusiasts and ground troops alike have adored for a generation.
The A-10 Warthog Is Still a Capable Fighter Despite finally being slated for retirement, the A-10 is now, and has been since its inception, the world’s most capable close air support (CAS) aircraft. Built to survive, loiter, and destroy, the A-10 has gained nearly legendary status for its ability to both absorb and dole out damage. With a titanium “bathtub” encasing the pilot and redundant flight systems, the A-10 has been known to survive significant damage, even having a wing sheared off, and still return the pilot safely back to base.
With a massive 30-mm GAU-8/A Avenger rotary cannon, capable of firing Pepsi can-sized depleted uranium rounds at a 70-round-per-second rate, the A-10 is fully capable of destroying tanks and armored vehicles. Paired with the ability to fly low and slow, almost like a helicopter, for extended periods over a battle space, the A-10 has rightfully earned a reputation as the world’s best CAS aircraft.
Indeed, the A-10 proved itself during the Gulf War, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and the Afghanistan War, thriving in the desert environment and serving as an invaluable asset in protecting American troops on the ground and engaging the enemy in complex and close-quarters situations. The A-10 was so effective that many proponents argued for its continued use, even as the technology became outdated and the Air Force shifted toward newer, more advanced aircraft.
The A-10 Warthog Lacks Stealth Features However, after years of delaying the inevitable, the A-10 is finally slated for retirement. A combination of budget constraints, strategic realignment, and the evolution of warfare in the decades since the A-10’s debut has contributed to the aircraft’s retirement.
The A-10 is not a stealth fighter and would struggle to survive in contested environments against modern air defense systems. In addition, the United States is pivoting away from conflict with third-world countries where the US Air Force has complete air superiority, thereby allowing the A-10 to operate without consequence despite its lack of stealth characteristics. The US Air Force is preparing for conflict with near-peer adversaries that possess air defense systems capable of rendering the non-stealth, subsonic A-10 ineffective.
The A-10 retirement process is already underway. Congress, which had previously blocked attempts to divest the platform, citing concerns over CAS capability gaps (there is no A-10 equivalent), finally began approving limited A-10 retirements.
As a result, the Air Force has been gradually drawing down its fleet. The phase-out process will continue through FY2026, when the last of the 162 remaining A-10s will be stood down.
About the Author: Harrison Kass Harrison Kass is a Senior Defense and National Security Writer at The National Interest. Kass is an attorney and former political candidate who joined the US Air Force as a pilot trainee before being medically discharged. He focuses on military strategy, aerospace, and global security affairs. He holds a JD from the University of Oregon and a master’s in Global Journalism and International Relations from NYU.
Ping!.......................
One of the greatest War Machines ever made.
It will be missed more than they know.
Noooooooooo! Oh well.
What’s going to replace its function as the greatest ground support/tank killer ever? And the geniuses are going to retire it just as war with China and Russia is on the horizon for the 2027 timeframe. SMH!
Jihad Buster.
Can I buy one? Flyable? With spares? ( I have a neighbor who is a retired A-10 driver )
I agree with you but could the same capability be provided with a drone swarm of 100 suicide drones for far less money.
Getting rid of an effective weapons system because you don’t “plan” on engaging anyone except near peer enemies seems remarkably short-sighted.
Like the “Deuce and a half”, they’ve been saying goodbye for years.
Donate them to Ukraine, where they can carry out their original function, destroying Russian tanks.
The money quote, if ya ask me ... “citing concerns over CAS capability gaps (there is no A-10 equivalent)”
Well Pentagon geniuses? What is the replacements when you get the radio call “They are 20 yards past the purple smoke, east. Yeah it’s danger F#$@#$in close! Do it or we die anyways. HIT EM.”
This move by USAF is a mistake.
Well they have to be in theatre, like RIGHT THERE to provide CAS.
But yeah, a flock of loitering CAS drones with good cameras, sensors and operators might work. Even for anti-jihadi work.
Give ‘em to the Texas Air Nat Guard. Border patrol.
Troop morale will hit a big down for a while, ground pounders absolutely loved those things to a man. The F-35 is by no means it’s replacement that they want to fill its shoes with now either.
The air force has been trying to get rid of the A-10 for some time. Basically, compared to the fast movers, it is inexpensive. The generals labor under the illusion that the larger their budget, the more power and influence they have.
It has been suggested the army take over the A-10 program. They would get the most benefit from it.
Don’t throw away a successful weapon until a proven one has been developed.
If you look at the Russia/Ukraine war, the use of drones has totally changed conventional warfare, dozens if not hundreds of drones are loitering over the battlefield at all times, attacking anything that moves.
Up to this point, no effective counter drone strategy has proven effective.
As in Vietnam and Afghanistan all that fantastical overwhelming technical superiority achieved exactly zilch.
“I agree with you but could the same capability be provided with a drone swarm of 100 suicide drones for far less money.”
that’s a good point, and probably likely true, but it’s doubtful our armed services have that capability YET ... but they soon should given their relationship with Anduril, and Palmer Luckey, who’s the Elon Musk of drones ... history has proven that young white or asian males are the prime [but not exclusive] movers of technology and real science ...
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