Davis-Monthan Air Force Base Ends Five Decades of A-10 Pilot Training as Focus Shifts to F-35

In April 2026, the United States Air Force concluded the training program at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base responsible for producing every A-10 Thunderbolt II pilot since the aircraft's introduction. The 357th Fighter Squadron graduated its last group of A-10 pilots, signaling a pivotal transition point for both the airframe and its home base, which is also famously known as the Air Force's aircraft boneyard.

The closing chapter for the A-10 training program coincided with a high-stakes combat search and rescue (CSAR) operation in the Persian Gulf region. During this operation, an A-10 providing escort duties came under enemy fire over Iranian territory but continued engaging hostile forces, ultimately aiding in the rescue of a downed F-15E pilot before its own pilot was forced to eject safely over Kuwait. This event underscored the aircraft’s enduring battlefield resilience despite its aging design.

Despite the hard-earned reputation and recent operational proof of its utility, the Air Force has extended the A-10’s retirement to 2030 or beyond, recognizing its ongoing relevance while acknowledging significant limitations. The Thunderbolt II fleet’s average airframe age now exceeds 43 years, with technologies dating back to the early 1970s. Modernization challenges make it inadequate for future conflicts involving peer adversaries equipped with sophisticated integrated air-defense systems.

As the era of the A-10 winds down at Davis-Monthan, the base is preparing to embrace the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II. Transitioning from a focus on the rugged, low-and-slow close air support role defined by the Warthog, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base is set to become a center of excellence for F-35 close air support and combat search and rescue missions, integrating advanced fifth-generation fighter capabilities.

The final batch of ten A-10 student pilots completed their mission qualification training by mid-March 2026 and graduated in early April, concluding 50 years of A-10 pilot production at Davis-Monthan. The aircraft’s official retirement there was marked on July 29 by a final two-ship flight led by senior commanders. Squadron leaders reflected on the emotional toll of shuttering a program that fostered decades of community, camaraderie, and combat experience.

Simultaneously, Davis-Monthan is evolving its force structure by welcoming units and personnel from other installations, expanding its CSAR mission, and incorporating new aircraft such as the L3Harris OA-1K Sky Raider II. This push toward a 'fast mover' and 'low and slow' combination of platforms aims to replicate and eventually surpass the A-10’s close air support capabilities with greater adaptability to modern threats.

The Air Force’s repeated attempts to retire the A-10 since 2015 have been met with Congressional resistance, reflecting the airframe’s unique operational role and strong support from both troops and veterans. Despite its heavy use and combat data supporting high mission capability rates, the A-10 has faced scrutiny over friendly-fire incidents tied to its outdated sensor suite and combat vulnerability.

Operational experience from recent conflicts has highlighted the A-10’s exceptional survivability and battlefield utility, as evidenced during Operation Epic Fury and the intense 2026 CSAR mission. Nonetheless, senior Air Force leaders stress that preparing for future conflicts with near-peer adversaries requires adopting platforms better equipped to counter sophisticated multi-domain threats. The financial savings from retiring the A-10 also form a pragmatic component of this strategic recalibration.