The U.S. Air Force has extended the A-10 Thunderbolt II, known as the Warthog, service life to 2030, reversing a prior plan for full retirement by 2029. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink announced the decision Monday in consultation with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, preserving close air support combat power while the defense industrial base ramps up production of new combat aircraft.
This shift overrides the fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, which mandated 103 A-10s in service through September 2026 before phasing out completely by 2029. The extension sustains two squadrons through 2030: one active-duty unit at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, and one reserve squadron at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri.
A second Moody squadron will operate until 2029. The move addresses immediate operational gaps, ensuring the A-10’s specialized capabilities—its 30mm GAU-8 cannon and rugged design for low-level attack missions—remain available amid delays in next-generation fighter production.
Maintaining these legacy airframes into the next decade supports squadron readiness without reactivating dormant training pipelines, though long-term viability beyond 2030 remains constrained by aging fleets and support infrastructure.