WASHINGTON, D.C. — The House Armed Services Committee included several A-10-related provisions in its draft of the annual defense policy bill as part of an en bloc package. The committee approved the A-10 en bloc amendments by voice vote and approved its version of the National Defense Authorization Act by a vote of 44-12 on Thursday evening.
One provision requires a report on potential A-10 capabilities by Jan. 15, 2027, from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Air Force Secretary Troy Meink, and the leaders of Air Combat Command and U.S. Central Command. The draft legislation also requests a study on whether the A-10 can be upgraded with emerging technology for future conflicts and requires the Air Force to investigate how existing or emerging platforms would conduct combat search and rescue missions.
Representative Abraham Hamadeh proposed an amendment directing officials to evaluate potential incremental modernization options for the A-10. These options include electronic warfare capabilities, decoy or stand-in effects delivery, aerial refueling enhancements, digital communications, sensor integration, precision weapons integration, survivability improvements, open-systems architecture, and human-machine teaming applications. The amendment directs an assessment of whether these upgrades would improve the operational return on continued sustainment for the A-10 program.
Hamadeh's amendment also requires an analysis of whether planned Air Force capabilities are expected to match or exceed the historical operational effects provided by the A-10 in roles including rescue mission commander, close air support, armed overwatch, forward air controller-airborne, and personnel recovery support. The amendment asks the Air Force to determine if the aircraft's operational history from the 1990s to the present could inform developments in human-machine teaming, autonomous collaborative aircraft, artificial intelligence-enabled mission planning, digital battlefield communications, and distributed air-ground integration.
Representative John McGuire added an amendment to assess the potential transfer of specific A-10 aircraft scheduled for retirement to other U.S. military branches. A separate amendment asks the Air Force to consider providing A-10 aircraft and equipment for research on autonomous or semi-autonomous aircraft integration, mission systems development, digital battlefield communications, and related capabilities. An Air Force report on these research proposals is due approximately six months after the act becomes law.
The A-10 entered U.S. military service in 1977. The Air Force intends to maintain some A-10 squadrons in operation until 2030, though operations are scheduled to cease at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach stated that F-15 Eagles or F-35 Lightning IIs could replace the A-10 for combat search and rescue missions. Congress has introduced multiple legislative efforts to prevent the Air Force from retiring the A-10. The A-10 assisted in rescuing a U.S. airman downed in Iran during Operation Epic Fury. The A-10 provisions require additional approval from both the House and Senate to be included in the final act.