Idaho Air National Guard Retires A-10 Warthogs as Deployment to Middle East Ensues
The Idaho Air National Guard's 124th Fighter Wing has bid farewell to its first A-10 Thunderbolt II, marking the commencement of an Air Force-wide effort to phase out close air support aircraft. The iconic jet departed from Gowen Field on May 27, bound for the storage facility at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, signaling the end of a three-decade association between the wing and the Warthog.
"This aircraft has been instrumental in shaping not only our tactics but our identity as a wing," said Col. Ryan Richardson, the wing commander and a Warthog pilot, in a statement. "It has helped cultivate a culture defined by toughness, precision, and purpose."
The 124th Fighter Wing is set to replace its A-10s with F-16 Fighting Falcons, with the first batches expected to arrive in spring 2027, contingent upon the completion of an ongoing environmental review. The wing will retrain its pilots rather than induct new personnel as it transitions to the Fighting Falcons, a common practice among Air National Guard units during aircraft conversions.
While preparations for the F-16 transition are underway, the wing did not immediately confirm the status of the pilot retraining program. The statement highlighted that the mission for the Airmen of the wing will "remain the same: projecting global airpower and adding to our revered history."
Lt. Col. Scott Walker, commander of the 124th Maintenance Squadron, expressed mixed feelings about the departure of the A-10. "We are disheartened that the day has arrived, but excited for our future mission," he added. "Our core team continues to fly the aircraft we have and prepare for whatever is required of us by our nation and state."
Since 1996, when the wing received its first Warthog, the 124th Fighter Wing has been actively engaged in combat operations, particularly in the Middle East. Notable deployments include Operations Inherent Resolve in 2016, against the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria, and Operation Freedom's Sentinel in 2020, the U.S. mission in Afghanistan.
In March, the wing's A-10s took on their final mission when multiple aircraft and over 300 Airmen deployed to U.S. Central Command, which encompasses U.S. forces in the Middle East and southwest Asia. The squadron is expected to remain in the region for approximately six months.
The deployment came just two days after the announcement of several B-2 stealth bombers' arrival on Diego Garcia, a strategic island within reach of Yemen in the Indian Ocean. As part of the buildup targeting the Houthis, the Pentagon has dispatched multiple air assets, along with an additional carrier strike group, to the Middle East region this year.
Dubbed a "tank killer," the A-10 is renowned for its proficiency in close air support, with impressive low-level maneuverability, extended loiter time, and a potent 30mm GAU-8 Avenger cannon capable of destroying heavily armored ground targets. It can carry up to 16,000 pounds of assorted munitions to provide effective fire support for ground troops.
The Air Force aims to eliminate a total of 56 A-10s service-wide in fiscal 2025. Transitions are also underway for the Indiana Air National Guard's 122nd Fighter Wing and Moody Air Force Base in Georgia, which is swapping Warthogs for F-35 stealth fighters. Meanwhile, other units, such as the Maryland Air National Guard's 175th Wing and the Ohio Air National Guard's 179th Airlift Wing, are concluding their flying missions and transitioning to cyber operations.
The strategic objective behind this shift is to align Air Force capabilities with the aims outlined in the National Defense Strategy. The need for aircraft better suited for contested environments, where survivability, sensor fusion, and advanced capabilities are paramount, drives the transition. The military emphasizes that the change will enable the wing to leverage its extensive fighter operations and maintenance expertise on a more modern platform.
- The Air Force-wide effort to Phase out close air support aircraft includes the Idaho Air National Guard's replacement of A-10 Thunderbolt IIs with F-16 Fighting Falcons, scheduled for spring 2027.
- Alongside the F-16 transition, the 124th Fighter Wing will also retrain its pilots, a common practice among Air National Guard units during aircraft conversions.
- The aerospace industry, with its ongoing advancements in aircraft technology, has led to the Pentagon's decision to invest in F-35 stealth fighters, replacing the A-10s at Moody Air Force Base in Georgia.
- Space, as a new contested environment, requires aircraft better suited for survivability and enhanced capabilities, prompting the military's shift away from A-10s and towards modern platforms like F-35s.
- The finance sector plays a crucial role in supporting this transition, providing the necessary resources for the military to remain competitive in diverse and evolving operational scenarios, from airpower projection to cyber operations.
