Air Force Extends Use of Iran Attack Plane A-10 ‘Warthog’ to 2030

The Thunderbolt II is currently deployed in Iran and was used to strike Iranian naval vessels during Operation Epic Fury, CENTCOM said.

A U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft from the 127th Wing, Michigan Air National Guard, flies over Selfridge Air National Guard Base, in Michigan, on Sept. 9, 2025. U.S. Air National Guard photo by Airman 1st Class Jacob Hessen

The U.S. Air Force said on April 20 that it would extend the life of the A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft—commonly referred to as the “Warthog”—for another four years beyond its previously stated retirement deadline of 2026.

Air Force Secretary Troy ​Meink wrote on X that following consultation with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, the Air Force “will EXTEND the A-10 ‘Warthog’ platform to 2030,” adding that this decision “preserves combat power as the Defense Industrial Base works to increase combat aircraft production.”