The U.S. Air Force flew the final A-10 Thunderbolt II sortie from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in June 2024 [4].
The event signals the formal end of the aircraft's operational service and the closure of a specialized training program. This transition removes a primary close-air-support asset from the military's active inventory.
Located in Tucson, Arizona, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base served as the hub for the A-10 weapons school. The facility has trained pilots for 50 years [3]. The school first began training pilots in 1977 [2], establishing a legacy of tactical expertise for the ground-attack fleet.
The A-10 Thunderbolt II, commonly known as the Warthog, has been in service for more than 40 years [1]. The aircraft was designed specifically for close air support, providing direct assistance to ground troops through heavy firepower and durable airframe construction.
The final flight took place on June 13, 2024 [4]. This sortie concluded the base's role in maintaining the operational readiness of the fleet. The closure of the weapons school marks the final chapter for a program that defined U.S. air strategy for five decades.
Air Force officials said they are retiring the A-10 fleet as part of a broader shift in aviation technology. The move follows years of debate regarding the aircraft's survivability in contested environments against modern air defense systems.
“The final sortie marks the closure of a 50-year-old weapons school.”
The retirement of the A-10 Warthog represents a strategic pivot by the U.S. Air Force away from dedicated, slow-moving ground-attack platforms toward multi-role stealth fighters. While the A-10 was prized for its durability and firepower, its lack of advanced stealth and electronic warfare capabilities makes it vulnerable to modern surface-to-air missiles, necessitating a transition to newer technology.
