The last active-duty A-10 at Nellis AFB flew its final mission Tuesday, ending almost 50 years of A-10 testing, training and maintenance at the base. About 70 airmen saluted the 'Warthog' as staff and expertise transition to multirole fighters such as the F-35 and F-16. Moody AFB now remains the last active-duty A-10 base, while Congress is considering the BRRRRT Act to require retaining a minimum A-10 inventory.
Nellis Retires Its Last A-10 Thunderbolt II, Closing Nearly 50 Years Of Warthog Operations
An Air Force weapons and tactics officer assigned to the 232nd Combat Training Squadron taxis an A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Sept. 22, 2026. (Annika Schermerhorn/U.S. Air Force)
The final active-duty A-10 Thunderbolt II assigned to Nellis Air Force Base completed its last flight Tuesday, closing nearly 50 years of A-10 testing, training and maintenance at the Nevada installation. About 70 airmen gathered on the flightline to salute the 'Warthog' as it departed for the final time, the base said in an official release.
Legacy And Role At Nellis
The first A-10 arrived at Nellis in 1977, launching decades of work refining the aircraft's tactical employment. Units based at Nellis polished the A-10's software, avionics and precision-weapons integration, while the U.S. Air Force Weapons School's 66th Weapons Squadron trained A-10 weapons officers across roughly 100 classes.
Transitioning Capability And Personnel
As the Air Force phases down the A-10 fleet, tactics, roles and personnel that supported the platform are being moved to multirole and advanced fighters so that close air support capability is preserved across the force. Airmen from the 757th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron's Thunder Aircraft Maintenance Unit are being reassigned to other squadrons and airframes, including the F-35 and F-16.
'The transition marks less of a retirement and more of an evolution, ensuring that the Warthog's legendary commitment to protecting troops on the ground is carried forward by the airmen and advanced platforms shaping the future fight,' the Nellis release said.
Where A-10s Remain
With Nellis' retirement complete, Moody Air Force Base in Georgia remains the last installation with active-duty operational A-10s. Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri continues to host an A-10 squadron in the Air Force Reserve. The Air Force earlier announced that one active-duty squadron at Moody and the reserve squadron at Whiteman would be extended through 2030, and an additional active-duty Moody squadron would be extended to 2029 rather than following a blanket 2029 retirement.
Legislation And Debate
In July, lawmakers introduced legislation in the House known colloquially as the BRRRRT Act that would require the Air Force to retain at least 126 A-10s and to reverse steps taken to dismantle the aircraft's maintenance depot, pilot training pipeline and dedicated weapons course. Rep. Abe Hamadeh (R-Ariz.), sponsor of the bill, said it aims to prevent retiring a proven weapons system before an officially certified replacement exists.
Operational Notes
The A-10 has continued to see operational use in recent years. For example, during Operation Epic Fury the aircraft provided support and struck fast-attack craft tied to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in the Strait of Hormuz, demonstrating the platform's utility in contested maritime environments.
Looking Ahead: The Air Force says close air support and combat search-and-rescue roles will be filled by a mix of platforms, including the F-35A, F-15E and F-16, while personnel and expertise transfer to those airframes.
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