The legendary ground attack aircraft, based in Arizona for decades, is slated for final retirement across the US Air Force in 2030.

Four A-10 Thunderbolt II (“Warthog”) squadrons have formally been inactivated at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona: the 355th Operations Group, the 357th Fighter Squadron, the 357th Fighter Generation Squadron, and the 355th Training Squadron. 

A ceremony on September 18 marked the final official end of all A-10 operations at Davis-Monthan. The inactivation ceremony, which included a twin flyover by the aircraft, took place around one month after the A-10’s final regular flight from the base. It is only the latest in a string of closures across the country related to the A-10, which is expected to face its final retirement in 2030. But the closure at Davis-Monthan is particularly significant because the Arizona airbase was effectively the aircraft’s institutional home. The A-10 arrived there on November 7, 1975, and for decades, Davis-Monthan handled formal initial qualifications and requalification training for active-duty A-10 pilots.

The Remaining A-10 Warthogs Are at These Bases

With the inactivation at Davis-Monthan, around 160 A-10s remain in service. The Air Force has voiced its intent to shut down the remainder of the A-10 program by 2030, although Congress has suggested it could mandate the program remain open beyond then. By law, the Air Force has been required to keep 103 A-10s operational through the end of Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) at the end of the month.

The only remaining base for active-duty A-10s is Moody Air Force Base in Valdosta, Georgia, where the 74th and 75th Fighter Squadrons hold most of the remaining active-duty Warthogs. The 303rd Fighter Squadron at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri also maintains an operational reserve contingent.

Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada and Hill Air Force Base in Utah, two historic hubs for A-10 training, each closed their remaining A-10 pipelines earlier this year, along with Davis-Monthan.

The A-10 Warthog Isn’t Out of the Picture Just Yet

• Year Introduced: 1977
• Manufacturer: Fairchild Republic
• Number Built: ~716 (all variants)
• Length: 53 ft 4 in (16.16 m)
• Wingspan: 57 ft 6 in (17.42 m)
• Weight (MTOW): ~51,000 lb (23,132 kg)
• Engines: Two General Electric TF34-GE-100 turbofans (~9,000–9,275 lbf thrust each)
• Top Speed: ~420 mph (675 km/h)
• Range: 
  • Combat radius: ≈ 290 nmi (334 mi, 537 km)
  • Ferry range with tanks: ~2,200 nmi (2,532 mi, 4,074 km)
• Service Ceiling: ~45,000 ft (13,700 m) — tactical employment almost always near ground level
• Loadout: GAU-8/A 30 mm rotary cannon (centerline); up to ~16,000 lb (7,260 kg) of external stores; loadout can include AGM-65 Mavericks, rocket pods, 2.75″ rockets/APKWS, JDAM/GBU kits, gun pods, flares/chaff, external tanks
• Aircrew: 1 (pilot)

The A-10 Thunderbolt II, universally known as the Warthog, was designed around close air support—specifically destroying Warsaw Pact tank columns during the Cold War. The A-10 first flew in 1972 and entered service in 1977. With straight, large wings optimized for low-speed maneuverability, short-field operations, and long loiter time, the A-10 provided exceptional stability during weapons delivery. Two TF34-GE-100 high-bypass turbofans mounted high and apart on the rear fuselage were well situated to enhance survivability; the placement helped reduce foreign-object ingestion and partially shield the engines from ground fire. Of course, the A-10 is slow by fighter standards, with a top speed of only 420 miles per hour. But this was a design feature as much as a weakness; low speed gives the plane greater time to target enemy ground forces, while a faster aircraft like the F-15 Eagle might need several passes to inflict the same amount of damage.

The jet is essentially built around a gun—the GAU-8/A Avenger seven-barrel 30mm Gatling gun. Measuring 19 feet long, the Gatling gun fires approximately 3,900 rounds per minute; each round is roughly the size of a soda can, packing an incredible punch to any unlucky target below. In addition to the gun, the A-10 can carry 16,000 pounds of external stores across 11 stations. Modern loadouts include the AGM-65 Maverick, JDAM, laser-guided bombs, APKWS rockets, and AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles for self-defense.

The A-10 Is a Flying Tank

The A-10 is built to take punishment. The pilot sits inside a titanium armor tub. The flight control systems and hydraulic systems are all redundant and backed up. Manual reversion is provided for backup control following hydraulic loss. The widely separated engines reduce the chance that a single hit destroys both in one strike. The A-10 also features a self-sealing and protected fuel system.

The A-10’s reputation for hardiness was cemented by aircraft returning with holes in the wings, missing or damaged engines, or compromised hydraulics. Time and time again, the aircraft found a way to get back to base and land safely after taking brutal punishment from ground fire. The plane’s extreme survivability was a vital design choice, given the close air support environment it was asked to operate within: low altitude and close to enemy ground fire.

The Air Force has tried to retire the A-10 for years, but it has repeatedly been forestalled by extreme resistance from aviators, military enthusiasts, members of Congress, and the general public. The aircraft’s defenders have argued that although it has some vulnerabilities, no other aircraft can fill the niche it occupies—and its meritorious service over Iran, including during the rescue of the downed “Dude 44” F-15E crewmen in April, shows it is survivable even against modern air defenses. Critics have also noted recent investments in keeping the aircraft airworthy, suggesting they could fly past their expected 2030 retirement date.

The reason the A-10 is being retired is not over questions of effectiveness, but whether a highly specialized and aging non-stealth aircraft is worth maintaining as the US pivots towards Indo-Pacific competition. The A-10 was designed for the plains of Eastern Europe and served quite well in the deserts of the Middle East, but the straight-winged, subsonic aircraft would almost certainly be out of place in the sprawling, dispersed geographies of the Indo-Pacific.

Whichever side one takes, the Davis-Monthan inactivation obviously marks a significant moment in the step towards the A-10’s ultimate retirement.

About the Author: Harrison Kass

Harrison Kass is a writer and attorney focused on national security, technology, and political culture. His work has appeared in Tablet, City Journal, The Hill, The Spectator, and The Cipher Brief. He holds a JD from the University of Oregon and a master’s in Global & Joint Program Studies from NYU. More at harrisonkass.com.

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