BRRRRT Act would delay Air Force attempts to eliminate ‘Warthog’

The Air Force would be forced to reverse efforts to cut the A-10 Thunderbolt II fleet and delay its retirement under bipartisan legislation introduced this week.

The bill would require the Air Force to retain a minimum of 126 of the twin-jet A-10 attack planes through at least the 2033 fiscal year. Officially called Thunderbolt II, the A-10 is widely known by its nickname, “Warthog.” The bill would also reverse recent Air Force moves to eliminate training and maintenance resources.

Rep. Abe Hamadeh, R-Ariz., a former Army intelligence officer, introduced House Resolution 9780 on Monday. It’s officially called the “Bolstering Recognition, Resurgence, Retention, and Remembrance of the Thunderbolt” Act.

But it is known as the “BRRRRT Act,” which plays off the distinctive sound of the A-10’s GAU-8 30mm Avenger 7-barrel autocannon that can fire 3,900 rounds per minute.

The Air Force has argued the A-10 is siphoning money and manpower away from its preferred programs, such as the F-35A Lightning II fighter, the B-21 Raider stealth bomber and the planning for the next generation FX-47 fighter.

The service has said that rather than having one aircraft to perform the A-10’s close air support, search-and-rescue and tank-busting roles, the work will be handled by units flying different aircraft such as the F-35, F-15E Strike Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon.

Hamadeh said in a statement that the action was needed to stop the Air Force from dismissing a proven ground-support aircraft at a time when the Pentagon has no single aircraft tapped as a replacement.

“The A-10 has repeatedly proven itself on the battlefield, saving American lives and delivering unmatched close air support when our troops need it most,” Hamadeh said in a statement announcing the bill. “The BRRRRT Act ensures we do not retire a proven weapons system before a certified replacement exists.”

The bill is supported by Rep. Don Davis, D-N.C.

Hamadeh and Davis sit on the House Armed Services Committee Tactical Air and Land Forces subcommitteey. Four additional Republicans have signed on as cosponsors, including representatives of the two bases in Georgia and Missouri where A-10s are based.

As of October, the Air Force had 162 A-10s in its inventory and said in defense budget plans that it wanted to retire them all. Congress countered with a plan to maintain 103 of the Warthogs.

The plane has a reputation of being able to fly low and slow to strike enemy targets on the ground, absorbing punishment from antiaircraft fire while staying in the air.

A U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II flies over the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility during Operation Epic Fury, March 9, 2026. (U.S. Air Force)

During attempts in early April to locate a downed F-15E crew member, an A-10 was reportedly hit by Iranian antiaircraft fire. The pilot was able to fly the plane out of Iranian controlled airspace and safely eject.

The Air Force announced this year that it would extend the service of three squadrons flying the A-10 at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri and Moody Air Force Base in Georgia, accounting for about 54 A-10s.

If the BRRRRT Act passes, the secretary of Defense would have to certify that a replacement aircraft with the primary mission of close ground support had been designated and was operational. The standard would not be met by designating an aircraft that has ground support as a secondary role. The certification would require getting the secretary of the Army, commandant of the Marine Corps and the commanding officer of U.S. Special Operations Command to sign off on the certification.

To field the 126 aircraft backed by the resolution, the Air Force would need to retrieve and restore some A-10s that have been sent to the aircraft boneyard at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, outside of Tucson, Ariz.

If enacted, the bill requires the Air Force to explain within 90 days how it will restore depot work on the planes, and restart pilot training, sustainment and flight testing.

The A-10 began production in 1975, and 713 were built for the Air Force before production ended in 1984. Those still flying have an average age of more than 43 years old and require increased maintenance, according to the Air Force.

The A-10 saw action in Grenada, Operation Desert Storm, Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq. It has also flown missions in Operation Epic Fury, the ongoing conflict with Iran.