The Air Force announced the full retirement plan.
The U.S. Air Force is aiming to fast-track the retirement of its entire fleet of A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft, commonly known as Warthogs, with plans to complete the phase-out by 2027. This accelerated timeline was revealed by senior Pentagon officials during a briefing on the proposed fiscal year 2026 defense budget. The plan includes a $57 million request specifically allocated to retire all 162 remaining A-10s.
For years, the Air Force has argued that the A-10s—designed during the Cold War—are increasingly vulnerable in modern combat environments and no longer fit for future warfare needs. However, strong advocacy from ground troops and congressional allies delayed the aircraft’s retirement. This began to shift in 2022 when lawmakers approved limited retirements, and the Air Force started gradually removing the aircraft from service in 2023.
Initially, the military intended to phase out the A-10s by 2029, but the current administration is pushing for a more aggressive timeline. This move is part of a broader defense strategy to modernize the military by retiring older systems considered outdated or ill-suited for high-tech warfare scenarios involving near-peer adversaries.
This shift also affects other legacy platforms, such as older Apache helicopters and MQ-1C drones, which are also being eyed for retirement. Funding is instead being reallocated to high-priority programs that align with the Pentagon’s future combat strategies, although some projects—like the Navy’s next-generation fighter and the new engine for the UH-60 Black Hawk—are being paused or canceled altogether.
Despite the Pentagon’s intentions, final decisions rest with Congress, which has a history of blocking such proposals, particularly when it comes to the A-10. Lawmakers will need to review and approve the budget and any related changes to military assets and procurement plans.
