Marking another step toward the retirement of its A-10 aircraft fleet, the U.S. Air Force has announced the deactivation of a key test unit involved in the platform’s technological development: Detachment 1 of the 40th Flight Test Squadron. Following a formal ceremony held in early December, the service indicated that the decision is aligned with the divestment process affecting the aircraft, which will no longer receive new upgrades going forward.
Providing further details, the ceremony brought to a close the work of a detachment with a long record of milestones related to the development of the A-10 as an attack platform, as well as the flight procedures associated with it. Among these achievements were tests involving Small Diameter Bombs, certification of targeting pods, and aerial refueling procedures involving KC-30 and KC-46 aircraft, among others.
In the words of Major Jordan Ziegler, who served as the last commander of Detachment 1 prior to its deactivation: “The detachment will be remembered for the planning, execution, and reporting of high-caliber, safe, effective, and efficient flight test operations that benefited the entire Air Force community. Our testing has provided deployed airmen with the confidence and capability to fight effectively, survive, and better protect the 18-year-old on the ground with a rifle, as well as to conduct combat search and rescue operations so that U.S. service members can return home to their families.”
On the other hand, it is worth recalling that even as the USAF quietly moves forward with the retirement of its A-10s, the aircraft are still expected to have several years of service remaining thanks to the U.S. Congress and its decision to postpone the Air Force’s plans to carry out this move during the current year. As previously reported in December, this development reflects not only the need to modernize attack fleets, but also the difficulties encountered in securing a viable next-generation replacement and unmanned alternatives—particularly in light of the multiple delays and cost overruns observed in the F-35 program.
In this regard, it should be noted that the U.S. Air Force began the year with a fleet of approximately 162 A-10 aircraft, a still considerable number for conducting close air support missions in low- and medium-intensity scenarios—a capability that the political establishment in Washington is reluctant to relinquish without a direct replacement in place. This is the case even though, from the USAF’s own perspective, retiring the aircraft would allow for a reallocation of available resources toward programs with greater future potential and to ensure the sustainment of current fleets.
Finally, it must be considered that while the political debate continues, the A-10 has already demonstrated its usefulness in modern combat environments. In particular, the platform was deployed to the Middle East over the past year, where under CENTCOM it took part in missions to intercept and shoot down drones launched by terrorist factions in the region against Israel and maritime traffic. In addition to its success in these types of operations, the platform has also proven to be cheaper to operate than its fifth-generation counterparts, as well as capable of carrying heavier payloads and remaining airborne for longer periods—albeit at the cost of speed and maneuverability.
Images used for illustrative purposes.
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