By John A. Tirpak
Time appears to be running out for the A-10—the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC)
announced June 23 that it will allow the Air Force to retire 42 A-10s as part of its 2024 National
Defense Authorization Act, approved this week. The Senate panel’s decision follows on a similar
one by the House Armed Services Committee, indicating that lawmakers are prepared to let the
A-10 go after years of defending the venerable close air support aircraft from divestment.