How many 10 warthogs are left?
The Air Force wants to retire its final 162 A-10 Warthog attack jets in fiscal 2026, as part of a plan to divest 340 total aircraft. The Pentagon also plans to cancel the E-7 Wedgetail program over what an official said were “significant delays” and cost increases. The Air Force only began retiring A-10s in earnest in 2023. For years, members of Congress had actively blocked the retirement of Warthogs, in part over questions about the ability of other aircraft, especially stealth F-35s, to fill in any potential gap in close air support capacity.
What is the weakness of the A-10 Warthog?
The A-10’s long loiter time is certainly an asset for CAS. However, this relatively slow flight speed makes the Warthog vulnerable to various battlefield threats, such as small arms fire and Man Portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS). Why does the US Air Force hate the A-10 so much given that it’s generally acknowledged to be the most capable ground attack aircraft in history? Long story short: The USAF has never wanted the Close Air Support mission. They are into bombers and fighters that attack the enemy or shoot down enemy airplanes.The Air Force has not always been enthusiastic about the A-10 Warthog, and there have been various reasons for this. Here are some of the main concerns: 1. Limited air-to-air capabilities: The A-10 was designed primarily for close air support and ground attack, and it has limited air-to-air capabilities.