The Warthog, aka the A-10 Thunderbolt II (just another plane in the US Air Force’s fleet), has never been like that. Since the 7,0s has gone on to earn iconic rankings not only among the pilots of the USAF but also among the soldiers of the ground forces, thanks to its unique design and very scary 30mm gun that could shoot below armored targets with great accuracy.
Due to its toughness, reliability, and unmatched close air support capabilities, the Warthog was hailed as the symbol of battlefield dependability. However, the Air Force is staging the retirement of the A-10 as part of a wider air combat strategy shift, thereby bidding farewell to a notable aircraft.
The procedure is moving quite fast and will go all the way to the end of fiscal 2026, when all 162 remaining A-10s are to be withdrawn, thus 2 years ahead of the initial timetable, and the cost associated with the move is estimated to be $57 million. Nearly 40 Warthogs were sent to the aircraft “boneyard” in Arizona last year—more than twice the number retired in 2023. Consequently, almost half of the total number of A-10s, most of them in non-flyable condition, were parked.
Congress, consistent with its old attitude, had always been opposing the retirement of the Warthog, but now it has become quite a different thing, and the opposition has been softened gradually. The 2025 defense bill lowered the minimum number of A-10s required in service from 135 to 96, reflecting a shift in priorities. The 2026 AF budget mirrors this development, signaling a broader drawdown of older aircraft, with the A-10 being phased out most rapidly.
How is that a reason to get rid of a plane that everyone loves? Warfare is different. In cases of very low intensity, the A-10 is still a winner, yet the advanced defense of modern battlefields makes it quite a dangerous place for the A-10. The emphasis is gradually moving towards stealthy, multi-role fighters and unmanned systems that can safely operate in the more contested airspace.
Many people do not agree with the idea, and the transition is still a matter of debate. The F-35 Lightning II has been slated as the Warthog’s successor, but the majority believe that it can never fully replace the A-10. They say F-35 is less heavily armed, does not have that famous gun, and is not suitable for low altitude, close support missions, which is why the Warthog has not been such a great aircraft in tests. The two airplanes can be comparable in close air support. However, F-35 pilots usually don’t get the same special training as A-10 crews.
The effects are visible at Air Force units already. The 354th Fighter Squadron at Davis-Monthan ended the use of the 36 A-10s it was operating, and Maryland’s 175th Fighter Wing has already started the transition to cyber operations, from which local leaders and veterans fear that they will lose the skilled pilots, and the bond with the community will weaken.
At the same time, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base is also going through changes, and it is getting ready to welcome new types of aircraft, such as the OA-1K Sky Warden, MC-130J Commando II, and EA-37B Compass Call electronic warfare aircraft. The pilots are adapting to new aircraft such as the F-35, while the commanders are stressing that the personnel are the backbone of the service, instead of aircraft, which are here today and gone tomorrow.
Even in the course of retirement, the A-10s continue to be utilized. At the beginning of 2025, the 124th Fighter Wing sent a few Warthogs along with their crews to the Middle East to support the operations in Iraq and Syria, as well as performing strikes in Yemen. Thus, these deployments showcase the effectiveness and worth of the A-10 in its last era.
The future is clear at the Air Force. The 2026 budget cut scheduled F-35 purchases from 74 to 47 and poured in a lot of money to get 21 F-15EX Eagle IIs and the next-generation F-47 air superiority fighter, plus other investments. The major areas targeted for funding are stealth bombers, advanced missile systems, and drone technology, with an emphasis on flexibility and cutting-edge capabilities.
As the A-10 is being retired, it is more than just the grounding of a plane – it is the end of an extraordinary chapter in air combat history. The Warthog’s memory of survival, high firepower, and closeness to the ground that no other aircraft could match will still be there, even though the Air Force has moved on to a future that is characterized by stealth, adaptability, and technological advancement.