Why the Air Force is Screaming to Retire the A-10 Warthog

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The US Air Force is charging ahead with plans to retire the A-10 Warthog attack jet within the next five years, but with no dedicated close air support platform to replace it with, pilots are worried that troops on the ground won’t get the air support they need in the next conflict. In the 2023 version of the National Defense Authorization Act, Congress approved the Air Force’s request to begin divestment of the current A-10 fleet, citing the aircraft as too old, too slow, and too expensive to maintain.

Written by: Chris Cappy & Diego Aceituno
Video Edited by: Maksym

This isn’t the first time the USAF has tried to retire the platform, but previous attempts have been delayed after pilots and troops protested the idea. But according to a June 26th Air Force memo, the service seems to be getting its way this time with a set timetable to replace the 54 A-10s from Moody Air Force Base with F-35As by 2028, and plans to retire the rest of the fleet soon to come. The A-10 is a much beloved airplane and pilots say that, while old, no other US aircraft can match its close air support capabilities or survivability.

So why is the Air Force so keen to replace such a unique platform? Can other aircraft truly replace it or will US troops be left high and dry when the shooting starts? And is the famous 30mm cannon on the nose of the A-10 truly effective or just a lot of smoke and thunder? Get ready to strap in and fly low as we make a strafing run on all the facts of the A-10 Warthog and how the US will be fundamentally changing how it approaches close air support missions.

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