In a significant development for U.S. military aviation, a newly proposed Senate bill could allow a portion of the iconic A-10 Warthog fleet to remain in service, contradicting the Department of Defense’s plan to fully retire the aircraft by 2026.
According to a report by DefenseNews.com, the Pentagon’s fiscal year 2026 budget proposal—released in June—outlined a sweeping plan to phase out all remaining 162 A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft. The retirement, initially slated for 2028, was accelerated by two years as part of broader strategic shifts within the Air Force.
In addition to the A-10 retirement, the proposed budget would also cancel the E-7 Wedgetail airborne early warning program, opting instead for the older E-2D Hawkeye and space-based surveillance alternatives. Perhaps most controversially, the proposal would slash the number of planned F-35A Joint Strike Fighter purchases for the Air Force from 48 to just 24 aircraft—nearly a 50% reduction.
These proposed reductions have drawn strong criticism from within the military community. Sixteen retired four-star generals, including six former U.S. Air Force chiefs of staff, publicly opposed the cuts. In a letter sent to top congressional leaders earlier this week, the group urged lawmakers to reconsider the Pentagon’s course, warning that such reductions would weaken the Air Force’s operational capabilities at a time of increasing global threats.
In response to the backlash, the Senate Armed Services Committee announced on Friday that it has approved its version of the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The Senate bill includes provisions aimed at preserving some of the A-10 fleet and partially restoring the F-35A acquisition targets.
“The proposed legislation would mitigate some of the Air Force reductions by ensuring continued operation of select A-10 aircraft and sustaining critical modernization programs,” the committee stated in its release.
The A-10 Warthog, affectionately known for its durability and close air support capabilities, has served in the U.S. military since the 1970s. While Air Force leadership has pushed for its retirement to free up resources for newer aircraft such as the F-35 and B-21 Raider, the Warthog still holds strong support among both service members and legislators for its effectiveness in ground combat missions.
The F-35A, meanwhile, remains a centerpiece of U.S. air superiority strategy. Drastic cuts to its procurement sparked concerns over fleet readiness and long-term deterrence capabilities.
While the full impact of the Senate bill is yet to be seen, the committee’s stance represents a clear divergence from the Pentagon’s budget trajectory. A final decision will depend on negotiations between the House and Senate as both chambers reconcile their versions of the NDAA in the coming months.
For now, at least some A-10 Warthogs appear poised to stay in the sky a bit longer—thanks to mounting political and military pushback against sweeping cuts to the Air Force’s legacy and next-gen fleets.