Summary and Key Points: The U.S. Air Force has begun retiring its fleet of Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft, known for their close air support (CAS) capabilities. Some lawmakers are considering transferring the retiring A-10s to the Royal Jordanian Air Force, as outlined in the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

-The A-10 could aid Jordan in its counter-drug operations and potential future conflicts against ISIS.

-While there has been speculation about other countries, including Ukraine, South Korea, and Colombia, showing interest in the A-10, Jordan is currently the primary focus for the potential transfer.

U.S. Considers Transferring Retired A-10 Warthogs to Jordan

The United States Air Force has begun the retirement of its fleet of Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II close air support (CAS) aircraft; even as some supporters of the ground attack fighter believe it still has a place on the modern battlefield. Earlier this year, there were even calls for the Cold War aircraft – affectionately known as the "Warthog" by its pilots and maintainers – would be well-suited to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

However, lawmakers on the United States Senate Committee on Armed Services apparently have another U.S. ally in mind. According to a report from TheAviationist, committee members have directed Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III to "explore the possibility of transferring" the A-10s now being retired to the Royal Jordanian Air Force.

The Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) bill, which was released earlier this month, outlined a proposed transfer of the CAS aircraft to the Middle Eastern nation.

"The committee directs the Secretary of Defense to report to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives, not later than February 1, 2025, on the feasibility and advisability of transferring retiring A-10 aircraft to Jordan. The report should include an analysis of Jordan's ability to maintain the aircraft on their own," the Senate Armed Services Committee's report (page 385) stated.

The A-10 could be well-suited to the ongoing counter-drug campaign that the Jordanian military is currently engaged in, which has included airstrikes on possible near the Syrian border. The Middle Eastern kingdom also played a major role in fighting ISIS over the past decade and could be called to do so again. The A-10 would be a platform ideally suited to such campaigns.

While there has been repeated speculation that a foreign buyer was interested in the A-10 Thunderbolts II, it is unclear if that nation was, in fact, Jordan. The U.S. Air Force had previously discussed a plan to supply Colombia with a squadron of A-10s to also counter drug cartels, but it never moved forward.

Likewise, there has been speculation that South Korea could have an interest in the CAS aircraft, likely to serve as a deterrent to North Korea, which is known to have a massive tank force.

A-10: Could Be Ideal for Ukraine

Aviation experts have suggested that the A-10 could be the perfect aircraft for the Ukrainian Air Force, as it was designed to survive even after heavy damage, and can operate from austere airfields, while the Ukrainian Air Force already operates the similar (but far less capable) Sukhoi Su-25 (NATO reporting name Frogfoots), a slow-flying ground attack aircraft that has been employed to strike Russian tanks.

Moreover, the A-10 could be supported by other aircraft – such as the F-16 Fighting Falcon – to accomplish its mission, which could be to strike columns of enemy tanks. Even this year, the Kremlin has continued to send its armor in columns down narrow roads, and experts say that the Warthog would be ideally suited to making attack runs to counter the Russian armor.

Combat Proven

Over the past two decades, the A-10 has been deployed to subsequent operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya.

Supporters of the Warhog have noted that it offers excellent maneuverability at low airspeeds and altitude while maintaining a highly accurate weapons-delivery platform. The A-10 Thunderbolt II is noted for being able to loiter near battle areas for extended periods, while operating under 1,000-foot ceilings (303.3 meters) with 1.5-mile (2.4 kilometers) visibility.

Originally designed for CAS by Fairchild Republic, the first A-10 model could carry bombs and rockets on 11 pylons and featured a 30mm GAU-8/A rotary cannon protruding from the nose of the aircraft.

The end of the line is coming for the A-10 – at least with U.S. Air Force service – but perhaps it will continue to operate with another foreign power for years or decades to come.

Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].

All images are Creative Commons and/or Shutterstock.