US extends A-10 Warthog to 2030 as firms work to boost aircraft production

The Pentagon announced Monday that it will extend the service of the A-10 Warthog close air support aircraft through 2030, ensuring it remains in the US arsenal for well over a half-century.

The A-10 has been in service since 1976 and has seen combat in nearly every major conflict in which the US has been involved in the nearly five decades since. It was slated to be retired in 2029, but Monday's announcement means it will remain in US stocks for at least another year.

They were most recently used in the efforts to retrieve two airmen after their F-15 went down over Iran. One A-10 crashed on April 3 into the Gulf off of Iran during that mission.

"In consultation with @SecWar, we will extend the A-10 'Warthog' platform to 2030. This preserves combat power as the Defense Industrial Base works to increase combat aircraft production," Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said on the US social media platform X, referring to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

"Thank you to @POTUS for your unwavering support of our warfighters and quick, decisive leadership as we equip our force. More to come," he added.

Hegseth separately posted: "Long live the Warthog" on X.

There are roughly 281 Warthogs in the US inventory, and each costs about $9.8 million to produce, according to the Air Force's website.