USAF Surplus A-10 Warthogs Already Have An Interested Buyer (2024)

Few US aircraft set the military aviation enthusiast's comments sections ablaze as much as the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II (aka Warthog). As the United States Air Force slowly divests its A-10s, there seems to be a country looking to snap them up and give them a new lease on life. The most obvious recipient is Ukraine, but the Air Force secretary has suggested Ukraine isn't particularly interested. So, if not Ukraine, then who? The A-10 was designed to be a tank and armored car killer in a hypothetical WWIII blunting Soviet armored forces as they streamed into West Germany. How effective it would have been in that battle that never happened will never be known (especially if it's not to be used in Ukraine).

End of the road for the A-10

The A-10 'Warhog' attack aircraft is loved and hated in equal measure, with some saying it is an obsolete piece of anachronistic junk that has no place in the high-threat environment of the modern battlefield. Others claim the aircraft is beautifully engineered with a unique ability to offer troops close ground support and that it can take punishing hits. The arguments go back and forth - although from an engineering perspective, the aircraft is a marvel. The aircraft's 30mm GAU-8/A Avenger nose-mounted Gatling gun and titanium 'bathtub' have long inspired awe. What is certain is that the Air Force is gradually divesting them.

Photo:Charles T. Peden | Shutterstock

"The Air Force is acutely posturing manpower from the divestiture of legacy platforms such as the A-10 and F- 15Es and recapitalizing the manpower towards the planning to procure modern aircraft such as the B-21 Raiders." - Air Force

In fact, the Air Force has been trying to get rid of its fleet of A-10s for many years now (so that it can funnel its resources into more modern jets). However, Congress has repeatedly prohibited the Air Force from doing so. Congress is allowing the Air Force to retire the jets at a slower rate than the Air Force would have liked. In addition to the 42 A-10s retired in Fiscal Year 2024, the Air Force stated in its 2025 Budget Request that it plans to divest another 56 A-10s in Fiscal Year 2025. According to the Air Force, they have an inventory of approximately 281 A-10s; the last is expected to retire around 2029.

The Ukrainian question

“Ukraine hasn't expressed much interest. I think they, rightfully, are concerned about their survivability,” Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall (reported by Defense One)

Photo: Łukasz Golowanow | Wikimedia Commons

Given how comparatively cheap and easy to operate the A-10s are, it is curious that they have never been exported. But this may be about to change if recent reports are to be believed. The war in Ukraine has rekindled the discussion of the A-10's survivability. Many analysts say they are too vulnerable on that battlefield; however, others point to both Ukraine and Russia extensively using the somewhat comparable Su-25 in the war.

That said, A-10s seem to divide high-ranking official opinions as much as teenagers on Reddit. Some Ukrainian officials have indeed suggested they would like to receive them to fight off the Russian invasion. One National Interest article argues that if the A-10s are paired with the F-16s Ukraine will soon receive, then it wouldn't have to be a sitting (flying) duck for Russian SAMs. While the A-10s are getting a bit long in the tooth, other systems such as ATACMs, HIMARS, and even old Soviet Su-25s are also used to great effect.

Photo: US Air Force

A mystery buyer

Regardless, another country is looking to purchase the US's old A-10s. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall has said Ukraine is not interested in acquiring old Warhogs. But the mystery buyer is said not to be Ukraine. But if not Ukraine, then who? And in what environment do they plan to use them going forward? It should be noted that once the aircraft are out of US inventory, it will be difficult to find a support base for them and parts will be difficult to find. Kendall said a country expressed interest, but he failed to disclose which country.

Without any official coming forward and saying which country the mystery buyer is, there is only speculation in the media. One possible candidate is Poland. The Full Scale Invasion of Ukraine sent shockwaves through Poland, and it is racing to rearm at a blistering speed, seemingly snatching up any weapons on the market. Another possibility could be South Korea. It's possible that A-10s could be useful in a war with the North - besides, A-10s are already in South Korea and operated by the US 25th Fighter Squadron at Osan Air Base.

Photo: US Air Force

Taiwan has been suggested as another possibility. It's possible Taiwan could use them to try to engage amphibious transports attacking the island. Then there's Egypt, which could use them to patrol its long borders (it has two failed-state neighbors: Libya and Sudan). Finally, Popular Mechanics suggests Vietnam could be an option. Although Vietnam's top rival is China and it is difficult to see how they could be used effectively in that theater.