Key Takeaways

• The U.S. Air Force plans to retire 162 A-10 Warthog jets by fiscal 2026 as part of a broader aircraft divestment strategy.
• The Pentagon intends to cancel the E-7 Wedgetail program due to increased costs and significant delays.
• The proposed budget for the Air Force includes a $184.9 billion discretionary budget, with a potential $249.5 billion total if additional funding is approved.

Aircraft Retirement Plans

The U.S. Air Force is set to retire its final 162 A-10 Warthog attack jets in fiscal 2026, totaling 340 aircraft scheduled for divestment. This decision aligns with a broader effort to modernize the fleet under budget constraints outlined in the Pentagon’s 2026 budget plan. The proposed budget allocates $211 billion for the Department of the Air Force, with the majority, $184.9 billion, designated for the Air Force, while the Space Force would receive $26.1 billion.

In addition, the Pentagon seeks an extra $38.6 billion in mandatory spending, which could bring total funding to $249.5 billion, a notable 17.2% increase from 2025 levels. However, without reconciliation, the Air Force’s spending would remain stable with a modest decline for the Space Force.

If Congress approves the Air Force’s retirement requests, this would mark one of the largest aircraft retirements in years. The expedited retirement of the A-10s reflects a shift in response to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s order to reduce defense spending by 8%. Historically, attempts to retire A-10 jets faced pushback from Congress; it remains uncertain whether lawmakers will support this initiative.

Other aircraft slated for retirement include 62 F-16C/Ds, 21 F-15Es, 14 C-130Hs, and 3 EC-130H Compass Call electronic warfare planes. Notably absent from the retirement list are approximately 32 Block 20 F-22A Raptors, which have been under scrutiny for their combat capabilities.

E-7 Wedgetail Program Cancellation

In a recent briefing, an Air Force official announced the cancellation of the E-7 airborne battle management program, primarily due to cost overruns, with expenses rising from $588 million to $724 million. Concerns over the aircraft’s viability in contested environments also contributed to the decision. Instead, the Pentagon plans to utilize space-based assets and increment the number of Northrop E-2D Hawkeye aircraft to achieve similar operational goals.

This shift involves retiring aging E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft, making the E-7’s cancellation notable as the Air Force previously considered it a leading successor for airborne warning and control operations.

Budget Allocation Insights

The proposed budget includes significant funding for modern military capabilities. This includes $10.3 billion for the B-21 Raider stealth bomber and $4.2 billion for the LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile, a replacement for the aging Minuteman III. The B-21’s procurement budget is slated to increase significantly, indicating prioritized investment in next-generation capabilities.

Conversely, the Air Force plans to reduce its F-35 Joint Strike Fighter procurement from 74 jets in 2025 to 47 in 2026, with particularly steep cuts for the F-35A variant. This reduction may hinder the Air Force’s goal of acquiring 72 annual fighter jets necessary for fleet modernization.

Additionally, the budget supports various drone programs, including $807 million for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft initiative aimed at advancing autonomous capabilities. With a total procurement request of $36.2 billion, including notable allocations for aircraft and missile systems, the Air Force seeks strategic investments for future readiness and operational efficiency.

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