Congress Adds Amendment to Defense Bill to Extend A-10 Operations Past 2030

An amendment added to the House Armed Services Committee’s version of the National Defense Authorization bill directs the Air Force to keep supporting A-10 training, testing, experimentation, maintenance, and sustainment efforts through the planned retirement date.

The same amendment requires preservation of lessons learned and operational expertise from A-10 missions to help shape future replacement systems, including retention of a formal training unit.

The amendment points to the A-10’s role in providing close air support during the recovery of two downed F-15E aircrew from Iran during Operation Epic Fury and its work securing the Strait of Hormuz. It also requests a report on the jet’s combat employment, recent operational relevance, lessons for future force design, and modernization options that could improve the return on continued sustainment.

The amendment lists recent modernization efforts including electronic warfare capabilities, decoy or stand-in effects delivery, digital communications, sensor integration, precision weapons integration, survivability improvements, open-systems architecture, and human-machine teaming applications.

It further calls for a competitive experimentation plan for autonomous and non-traditional capabilities relevant to the A-10 mission set, with participation from non-traditional defense firms. The plan must ensure operational experiments maintain meaningful human command and control by a qualified military aviator for mission-critical functions such as target engagement, weapons release, and mission abort decisions.

The amendment authorizes reconstitution of an A-10 demonstration team to support public outreach, recruiting, heritage, airshows, military ceremonies, and commemorative events tied to the 250th anniversary of the United States. It also directs the Secretary of Defense to evaluate potential transfer of retired A-10s to another military department.