Through a brief statement on social media, the U.S. Air Force (USAF) Secretary, Dr. Troy E. Meink, confirmed that the service is reversing its plans to proceed with the retirement of its A-10C Thunderbolt II attack aircraft. Looking ahead, the force intends to keep them in service at least until 2030, a decision that already has the approval of the Pentagon and the administration led by Republican Donald Trump.
Quoting Secretary Meink’s official statements: “After consulting with the Secretary of War, we will extend the service life of the A-10 ‘Warthog’ platform through 2030. This preserves combat capability while the Defense Industrial Base works to increase fighter aircraft production. Thanks to the President for his unwavering support to our warfighters and for his swift and decisive leadership in equipping our forces. More information will be forthcoming.”
Expanding on the details, it is worth noting that the U.S. Air Force aims to extend the service life of a total of three A-10C squadrons with a medium-term outlook, representing a significant slowdown to what had been expected as a full retirement in the near future; as the USAF itself had intended to carry it out in 2026 before Congress required a viable replacement plan. In particular, two squadrons based at Moody Air Force Base would have been selected, while the remaining unit would be a reserve squadron stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base.
As previously reported, the service is undergoing a broad restructuring and modernization process, in which the already legendary A-10s are expected to be replaced by F-35 stealth fighters manufactured by Lockheed Martin. Delays in the incorporation of this platform, as well as the high costs associated with acquiring and operating it, are key factors in understanding the decision to extend the service life of these attack aircraft; even after steps had already been taken, such as the deactivation of one of their main test units.
Another highly relevant factor to consider is the development of Operation Epic Fury in the Middle East, where A-10C Thunderbolt II aircraft have repeatedly demonstrated that they remain a highly useful combat platform. During last March, we reported how aircraft deployed to the region were used in strike missions against naval targets in the Strait of Hormuz, particularly against small vessels and unmanned systems used by Iran to enforce its blockade.
Additionally, it was also reported that A-10s carried out multiple strikes against Iranian-backed militias operating in Iraq, thereby weakening their ability to respond to U.S. and Israeli attacks. In both cases, the platform stood out due to the wide range of weapons it can employ in combat, as well as its high endurance to remain airborne in search of potential targets. Examples of this arsenal include AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, AGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground missiles, and 70 mm APKWS II guided rockets, in addition to the well-known 30 mm GAU-8/A Avenger Gatling cannon.
Finally, although the U.S. Air Force had previously stated that the A-10C fleet would not continue receiving new capabilities, it is worth noting that the platform’s aforementioned endurance could now also be enhanced thanks to a new aerial refueling system based on an external probe-and-drogue configuration. This represents a capability that the platform previously lacked, as it originally relied exclusively on boom refueling systems.
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