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A-10C Thunderbolt II aircraft from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base performed a combat arms demonstration at the Luke Days Air Show at Luke AFB, Arizona, March 22, 2026–marking their final Luke Days appearance as the aircraft divests and pilots transition to the F-35A Lightning II and other Air Force assignments.
As explained by Airman 1st Class Belinda Guachun-Chichay, 56th Wing in the article A-10 Makes Final Luke Days Appearance, the flyover, performed by pilots from the 357th Fighter Squadron, served as a symbolic close to a chapter that has long defined the southern Arizona community. Behind that moment, however, a broader shift has already been underway for several years.
A-10 pilots bring years of experience rooted in close air support as many prepare to begin the next phase of training at Luke Air Force Base, which remains at the forefront of producing combat-ready fighter pilots.
U.S. Air Force Maj. Nathan “ED” Mazurowski, a 357th Fighter Squadron A-10 instructor pilot, experienced a full-circle moment during the flyover as he flew the aircraft for the final time over the same base where he will begin F-35A Lightning II training.
“The aircraft is changing, but the mindset is not,” Mazurowski said. “The discipline and precision we learned here apply anywhere.”
For U.S. Air Force Maj. Jose “SHUCO” Paiz Larrave, a fellow 357th Fighter Squadron A-10 instructor pilot, this change brings a lot of emotions.
“We are not going away,” Paiz Larrave said. “We are going to other places to share those lessons learned and make sure we do not lose that knowledge.”
The divestment of the A-10 marks the end of an era but not the end of its influence. As its pilots disperse across the Air Force, they bring with them a mission-first mindset that will continue to shape operations for years to come. Through this transition, while the A-10’s mission is ending, its legacy lives on by being woven into the future of airpower and ensuring the force remains ready, adaptable and lethal.
The divestment of the A-10s has been a topic since the early 1980s as the Air Force sought to modernize and increase lethality amid evolving mission sets.
While the branch is not divesting the platform entirely, Davis-Monthan will say goodbye to the airframe by the end of this year.
Noteworthy, the Congress has moved to save the mighty Warthog from the USAF divestment efforts. In fact, the service’s plan to retire the remaining fleet has been blocked by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 that mandated a minimum inventory of 103 A-10s through Sep. 30, 2026, and requiring detailed transition planning.
As already explained, the USAF A-10 attack aircraft have been used to strike Iranian naval vessels during Operation Epic Fury.
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said on Mar. 19 that the US Air Force (USAF) A-10 Thunderbolt II close air support (CAS) aircraft are now engaged in maritime interdiction operations along the southern flank of Operation Epic Fury, targeting Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fast-attack watercraft in the Strait of Hormuz.
“The A-10 Warthog is now engaged across the southern flank, targeting fast-attack watercraft in the Strait of Hormuz,” USAF Gen. Dan Caine said during a Pentagon briefing on the operation.
The Warthog role in Operation Epic Fury saw an expansion with this announcement. On Mar. 15, US Central Command (CENTCOM) released imagery of A-10C Thunderbolt IIs receiving fuel in flight while supporting the operation, the first official visuals of the aircraft in the campaign.
“The A-10 Thunderbolt II can loiter for hours, standing by and ready to execute a mission whenever needed,” CENTCOM said in the accompanying post on X.
Additionally, the A-10 is supporting Operation Epic Fury by conducting strafing runs over Iranian-backed PMF (Popular Mobilization Forces) positions at Mosul.
The A-10C (dubbed Warthog by her aircrews) offers excellent maneuverability at low airspeeds and altitude while maintaining a highly accurate weapons-delivery platform. They can loiter near battle areas for extended periods of time, are capable of austere landings and operate under 1,000-foot ceilings (303.3 meters) with 1.5-mile (2.4 kilometers) visibility. Additionally, with the capability of carrying precision guided munitions and unguided munitions, they can employ above, below and in the weather. Their wide combat radius and short takeoff and landing capability permit operations in and out of locations near front lines. Using night vision goggles, A-10C pilots can conduct their missions during darkness.
Thunderbolt IIs have Night Vision Imaging Systems (NVIS), goggle compatible single-seat cockpits forward of their wings, Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems, and a large bubble canopy which provides pilots all-around vision. The pilots are protected by titanium armor that also protects parts of the flight-control system. The redundant primary structural sections allow the aircraft to enjoy better survivability during close air support than previous aircraft.
The aircraft can survive direct hits from armor-piercing and high explosive projectiles up to 23mm. Their self-sealing fuel cells are protected by internal and external foam. Manual systems back up their redundant hydraulic flight-control systems. This permits pilots to fly and land when hydraulic power is lost.
Photo credit: Senior Airman Belinda Guachun-Chichay / U.S. Air Force
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