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By Mike Stone<\/p>\n
WASHINGTON, April 20 (Reuters) – The U.S. Air Force secretary extended the life of the A-10 “Warthog” attack plane until 2030, sparing the aging but beloved \u200cclose air support aircraft that has played an important role in Iran from \u200can earlier retirement deadline of 2026.<\/p>\n
“We will EXTEND the A-10 ‘Warthog’ platform to 2030,” Air Force Secretary Troy Meink \u200bposted on social media, adding the move “preserves combat power as the Defense Industrial Base works to increase combat aircraft production.”<\/p>\n
The decision is the latest chapter in a long-running battle over the fate of the plane, which first flew in 1976 and has been on the Pentagon’s chopping \u200cblock for more than two decades. \u2060The A-10 has been used in the current conflict with Iran, according to U.S. Central Command. Its powerful nose-mounted guns have been used \u2060against Iranian ships in the Strait of Hormuz, according to reports.<\/p>\n
Some in the Air Force have long argued that the Warthog is too old, too slow and too expensive to maintain, and that \u200bretiring \u200bit would free up money for modernization priorities \u200blike development of hypersonic weapons. Critics \u200chave warned that cutting the fleet without a suitable replacement would leave ground troops without adequate air support.<\/p>\n
But the A-10 has proven almost impossible to kill, in large part because of its political staying power. The largest concentration of the fleet is based at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona, contributing to the local economy. The Air Force ranks among the \u200cregion’s top employers. Arizona is a battleground state \u200bthat has become increasingly influential in deciding U.S. presidential \u200braces.<\/p>\n
In 2021, Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly successfully \u200bpushed back against a Biden administration proposal to retire dozens of \u200cthe planes, securing language in defense legislation \u200bthat blocked any retirements. \u200bKelly argued the planes should not be cut without a suitable replacement to carry out the close air support mission.<\/p>\n
Air Force officials have also warned that keeping the \u200bfull fleet strains the supply \u200cof mechanics needed to service newer aircraft.<\/p>\n
The latest extension suggests those concerns have, \u200bfor now, again taken a back seat to preserving combat capacity.<\/p>\n
(Reporting by \u200bMike Stone in Washington; editing by Chris Sanders)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n