The U.S. Air Force Still Wants To Prematurely Retire The A-10

Air Force photos

David Axe, War Is Boring: The U.S. Air Force Still Plans to Prematurely Retire the A-10

So much for the Warthog's alleged reprieve.

Supporters of the U.S. Air Force’s A-10 Warthog attack jet celebrated in February when the Pentagon announced that the flying branch would delay retiring the heavily-armored, gun-armed planes until 2022, eventually replacing the A-10 squadrons one at a time with units flying the new F-35 stealth fighter.

Previously, the Air Force planned to fully retire all 300 A-10s by 2018. Congressional and public opposition — and the fact that the Pentagon has recently deployed A-10s to battle Islamic State and to deter Russia — compelled the Air Force to bump back the twin-engine jet’s final flight. “The budget defers the A-10’s final retirement until 2022, replacing it with F-35 Joint Strike Fighters on a squadron-by-squadron basis, so we’ll always have enough aircraft for today’s conflicts,” Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said.

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Update #1: Despite 2022 deadline, Air Force wants A-10 squadrons to go away sooner (Air Force Times)
Update #2: Pentagon to Continue Funding A-10 (National Defense).

WNU Editor: The A-10 has many backers in Congress. I will be surprised if the Pentagon will get its way on the A-10.