A-10 Warthog Faces Full Retirement in 2026

After decades of battlefield service, the legendary A-10 Thunderbolt II—better known as the “Warthog”—may finally be heading for full retirement. In its Fiscal Year 2026 budget proposal, the U.S. Air Force has requested to retire all 162 remaining A-10s in one sweeping move, rather than phasing them out over time as previously planned.

A Legacy Built Around Firepower

The A-10 has long been a favorite among ground troops and aviation enthusiasts alike. Built around its fearsome 30mm GAU-8 Avenger cannon, the Warthog was designed to shred Soviet tanks during the Cold War but found its true calling in close air support roles over Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria.

Tough, reliable, and brutally effective, the A-10 earned its place in military lore. But as the Pentagon pivots to peer-on-peer warfare and high-tech platforms, the Air Force says the Warthog no longer fits the bill.

Clearing the Deck for the Future

The Air Force plans to retire a total of 340 aircraft in FY2026, including not just A-10s, but also 62 F-16s, 21 F-15Es, 14 KC-135 tankers, and even a single B-1 bomber. The goal: free up billions to invest in sixth-generation systems like the upcoming F-47 stealth fighter, the B-21 Raider bomber, and modernization for the troubled F-35 program.

While 24 new F-35As and 21 F-15EXs are planned for purchase, this falls short of the 72 new fighters per year the Air Force says it needs just to stop its combat fleet from shrinking.

Resistance on Capitol Hill

This isn’t the first time the Air Force has tried to shelve the Warthog. For years, lawmakers—especially those with A-10 squadrons in their districts—have blocked its retirement. And while Congress previously allowed gradual phaseouts, this accelerated timeline to 2026 will almost certainly trigger new debates.

Some in Congress have even floated transferring older A-10s to allies like Jordan. But whether that gains traction remains to be seen.

Can the F-35 Fill the Gap?

The Air Force insists the F-35A can handle the close air support mission. But critics argue otherwise. Unlike the A-10, the F-35 was not designed to soak up ground fire or loiter low over a battlefield. And its internal gun—when it works—carries fewer, smaller rounds. Many say trading in titanium-armored survivability for digital stealth and sensor fusion is a risky bet.

End of an Era

Of the 716 Warthogs built, only 162 remain. In 2024 alone, 39 were sent to the boneyard. Now, the rest may follow—possibly within just two years. Though they won’t be scrapped immediately, they’ll be stored in the Arizona desert, available for reactivation if the world shifts again.

The A-10’s retirement marks the end of a unique chapter in American airpower—one where brute force and battlefield presence mattered more than stealth and sensors. As the Air Force sets its sights on future wars, the Warthog prepares for its final flyover.