As part of the list of aircraft it intends to retire in 2026, the U.S. Air Force has included its remaining 162 A-10 Warthog attack aircraft—marking a significant acceleration compared to the originally planned timeline. These units are part of a total of 340 aircraft the service seeks to phase out in the near future. This plan also includes the cancellation of several key programs in order to avoid further cost increases and scheduling delays, such as the case of the E-7 Wedgetail program.
It is important to note that if the U.S. Congress approves the retirement of all aircraft listed by the Air Force, it would represent one of the largest fleet reductions in recent years. Justifying the decision, U.S. media have cited statements from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who suggested cutting and reallocating up to 8% of defense funding. This has prompted a reassessment of sustaining older platforms currently operated by the USAF.
In concrete terms, the budget proposal drafted by the Pentagon allocates a total of $249.5 billion to the Air Force—a 17% increase compared to the budget designated for 2025. However, if Congress fails to pass a reconciliation bill that would inject around $24.7 billion for the Air Force and $13.8 billion for the Space Force, the institution’s budget would remain at levels similar to the current fiscal year, with all the implications that entails.
Beyond budgetary considerations, it’s worth recalling that the U.S. Air Force had already begun phasing out the A-10 Warthog under a plan that would extend the aircraft’s service through the end of the decade. To move forward with that original timeline, the Air Force faced resistance from lawmakers who were not yet convinced that the aircraft had outlived its usefulness, raising questions over whether the proposed full retirement of the 162 aircraft will ultimately be approved without delay.
Finally, taking a broader view of the total number of aircraft the service intends to retire—beyond the 162 A-10s—the list also includes 62 F-16C/D fighters, 21 F-15Es, and 13 F-15C/Ds. Additionally, the plan affects 14 C-130H Hercules transport aircraft, 3 EC-130H Compass Call electronic warfare aircraft, 14 KC-135 tankers, 35 T-1 Texan trainers, and one B-1 Lancer. It also includes 15 helicopters. Notably absent from this list—despite being featured in similar proposals in recent years—are the well-known Block 20 F-22 fighters.
Images used for illustrative purposes only
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