A newly proposed Senate bill could give some of the U.S. Air Force’s iconic A-10 Warthogs a temporary lease on life, reversing part of a controversial Pentagon plan to retire the entire fleet by 2026.

The bill, which is part of the Senate Armed Services Committee’s version of the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), responds to growing pushback from defense leaders and lawmakers over sweeping cuts proposed in the Department of War's latest budget.

In June, the Pentagon released its proposed 2026 budget, signaling a major shift in Air Force priorities. The plan called for retiring the remaining 162 A-10 close air support aircraft two years earlier than initially planned.

It also included canceling the Boeing E-7 Wedgetail airborne command and control aircraft in favor of the older E-2D Hawkeyes and space-based alternatives, while cutting the annual procurement of the advanced F-35A Joint Strike Fighter nearly in half—from 48 to just 24.

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Image Credit: DoW

The reaction was swift and forceful. Sixteen retired four-star generals, including six former Air Force chiefs of staff, sent a letter to congressional leaders urging them to rethink the Pentagon’s proposed cuts.

The move marked a rare and public break from the Department’s official position, underscoring the deep concern within the defense community about weakening the Air Force’s ability to deter peer adversaries.

In response, the Senate Armed Services Committee took action.

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Its NDAA proposal would require the Air Force to retain at least 103 A-10 Warthogs in 2026, effectively saving nearly two-thirds of the fleet from immediate retirement.

The bill also restores some of the cuts to the F-35A program by authorizing the purchase of 35 aircraft, up from the Pentagon’s proposed 24.

While the A-10’s future has long been debated—some see the aircraft as outdated in an era of stealth and hypersonic weapons, while others praise its unparalleled close air support capabilities—the proposal shows there is still substantial support for the "Warthog" in Congress.

Meanwhile, the E-7 Wedgetail program is emerging as another high-stakes flashpoint.

Designed to replace the aging E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS), the E-7 offers improved battlefield awareness and command and control capabilities.

But Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told lawmakers in June that the program’s cost had ballooned, and he questioned its survivability in a conflict with an advanced adversary like China.

Image Credit: DoW

The Pentagon’s proposed budget reflects this skepticism, cutting funding for the E-7 down to just $200 million in 2026—a steep drop from $850 million in 2024 and $607 million in 2025.

However, the House Armed Services Committee is pushing back. Its version of the NDAA would restore $600 million to the E-7 program, bringing its total to nearly $800 million.

This would allow the program to continue its rapid prototyping phase and potentially keep the aircraft on track for eventual deployment.

The House bill also aligns with the Air Force’s evolving stance on the hypersonic AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW), a program that has seen mixed results due to a series of failed tests.

Despite these setbacks, the Pentagon appears to be reconsidering its previous retreat from ARRW, and the House NDAA would allocate $387 million to support continued development.

Beyond individual platforms, the Senate NDAA also includes strategic requirements.

The bill directs the Air Force to submit two comprehensive roadmaps: one for its future bomber force and another for how it intends to execute intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions going forward.

These planning documents could shape the Air Force’s posture for years to come, particularly as it grapples with the dual challenges of modernizing its force and countering threats from near-peer competitors like China and Russia.

As the Senate and House move toward reconciling their versions of the NDAA, the future of these programs remains uncertain.

But the bipartisan willingness to revisit and revise the Pentagon’s initial budget proposals reflects a broader concern: ensuring that the U.S. Air Force remains capable, modern, and ready in the face of growing global threats.

With the A-10, E-7, F-35, and ARRW all on the table, Congress’s decisions in the coming months will significantly impact the shape and strength of American airpower into the next decade.

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