[Editor’s Note: As we previously stated, the Warthog received a new lease on life. SECDEF Carter has made that official, so there are a lot of folks breathing a huge sigh of relief. The airplane is the absolute best in the world at its given missions, and with all of the heated debate and emotion surrounding the topic, it’s nice to have something definite!]

Defense Secretary Ash Carter today announced what has been anticipated for month: the A-10 will not be retired.

In a speech previewing next week’s budget release, Carter also highlighted new technologies his department is developing in order to meet what he called a “major inflection point” that takes “the long view” for the department.

“We’re also investing to maintain more of our 4th-generation fighter and attack jets than we previously planned — including the A-10, which has been devastating ISIL from the air. The budget defers the A-10’s final retirement until 2022,” Carter said. “Replacing it with F-35s on a squadron-by-squadron basis so we’ll always have enough aircraft for today’s conflicts.”

A Fairchild Republic A-10C Thunderbolt II sits on the ramp at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. (Photo by Jonathan Derden)
A Fairchild Republic A-10C Thunderbolt II sits on the ramp at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. (Photo by Jonathan Derden)

The Air Force planned to retire the A-10, but faced intense pressure from Congress.

The original article can be viewed here.

(Featured photo by Jonathan Derden)