A-10 Warthogs will be retired by the Air Force, however F-22 Raptors will remain in service (For Now)
A major defense policy bill with updates to the Air Force’s efforts to retire some airplanes is close to passing in Congress. The Air Force wanted to remove two critical warplanes from its fleet before lawmakers made their decision on the FY23 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which the House of Representatives has already approved. Time for Some Warthogs to Bid Adieu Now, 21 A-10 Warthogs will be ending their service next year, but the House said no to retiring the F-22 Raptor. The Air Force was slated to cut 33 of the oldest F-22s. The Senate is expected to pass the NDAA in its current form in a vote that would save the F-22 from the chopping block. Cuts Will Be for the Reserve Component The A-10s will be removed from the Fort Wayne Air National Guard Base in Indiana and F-16s will take their place. Congress and the Air Force have been sparring about the future of the A-10 for years as some legislators have fought to preserve it, while other Air Force lea...