The A-10 Thunderbolt II, or as most call it, the Warthog, has been greater than a jet for years—it’s an American air power icon. Since the 1970s, the Warthog has been respected and admired by soldiers and pilots as much for its rugged design and strength as for its terrifying 30mm GAU-8 Avenger autocannon, capable of destroying tanks and armored vehicles with ease. Designed to withstand punishment and defend ground troops, the Warthog became the Air Force’s go-to close air support aircraft. But after decades of service, the Air Force is now moving decisively to retire this legendary jet—a shift that reflects the changing nature of modern warfare.
The retirement is happening faster than many expected. The Air Force plans to retire all 162 remaining A-10s by the end of fiscal 2026, two years ahead of schedule, at an estimated cost of $57 million. In 2024 alone, close to 40 planes were retired and left in the so-called “boneyard” in Arizona, over two times the number retired in 2023. As of the end of 2024, half the fleet had already been stored, most no longer flight-capable.
Congress had previously opposed phasing out the Warthog, but support for doing so has lessened in recent years. The 2025 defense bill slashed the number of A-10s that are to be retained from 135 to 96, marking a change in priorities. The Air Force 2026 budget also marks an across-the-board effort to phase out several hundred older aircraft, with the A-10’s retirement garnering the most publicity.
Why retire such a popular plane as the Warthog? The reason is the changing battlefield. The A-10 excels in low-intensity wars, where no one else can match its low-altitude, low-speed capabilities. But Air Force commanders say it would struggle in coming wars against cutting-edge air defenses. The service is more and more committed to buying stealthy, multi-mission fighters and drones that will penetrate highly contested airspace.
The transition has not been smooth. The F-35 Lightning II is supposed to take over much of the Warthog’s mission, but most experts doubt that it can effectively replace the A-10. Critics argue that the F-35 has fewer weapons, no Warthog-style legendary cannon, and is not designed for the slow, low-altitude close air support missions that made the Warthog legendary.
Tests indicate the F-35 and A-10 are generally equivalent in some close air support missions, but F-35 pilots are not provided the same special training that A-10 crews have perfected over many decades. This has created a fear of losing a distinctive and valuable combat skill set forged through experience if the Warthog is retired.
The effects of retirement are already being seen. The 354th Fighter Squadron at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base has retired all 36 of its A-10s, while Maryland’s 175th Fighter Wing is phasing out flying Warthogs for cyber operations. This transition has been criticized by local leaders and veterans who worry about the loss of experienced pilots and long-standing community relationships.
Davis-Monthan itself is changing. A place once indistinguishable from the Warthog, the base is gearing up for future missions in aircraft such as the OA-1K Sky Warden, MC-130J Commando II, and electronic warfare aircraft like the EA-37B Compass Call. Pilots are transitioning into aircraft such as the F-35, with commanders emphasizing that although planes come and go, talented people remain the lasting foundation of the Air Force.
Even as retirement looms, the A-10 continues to fly. In early 2025, the 124th Fighter Wing sent several Warthogs and hundreds of troops to the Middle East to participate in Iraqi, Syrian, and ISIS operations. The aircraft has also made sorties in Yemen, demonstrating that even in its twilight years, the Warthog is mission-relevant.
Ahead, the Air Force is investing in next-generation capabilities. The 2026 budget slashes F-35 buys from 74 to 47 while spending billions on new F-15EX Eagle IIs, the next F-47 air superiority fighter, cutting-edge missile systems, stealth bombers, and unmanned systems. The emphasis is on flexibility, survivability, and holding technological superiority.
Retiring the A-10 is more than putting an aircraft out of commission—it constitutes the end of a remarkable chapter in the history of air combat. The Warthog’s image of ruggedness, firepower, and unparalleled close air support will endure as legendary, even as the Air Force progresses into the future shaped by stealth, speed, and advanced technology.