“We will EXTEND the A-10 ‘Warthog’ platform to 2030,” Meink wrote on social media, adding the decision would help preserve combat capability while the defense industrial base ramps up aircraft production.

The A-10 Thunderbolt II, first introduced in 1976, had been scheduled for retirement by 2026. The aircraft has been actively deployed in recent operations involving Iran, with U.S. Central Command indicating its use against maritime targets in the Strait of Hormuz.

Long valued for its durability and powerful nose-mounted cannon designed for close air support, the A-10 has remained central to operations supporting ground troops. However, Air Force officials have repeatedly argued the platform is increasingly costly to maintain and less suited to modern warfare compared with newer systems.

Debate over the aircraft’s future has persisted for more than two decades, with proponents in Congress warning that retiring the fleet without a direct replacement could leave a critical gap in battlefield support. In 2021, Mark Kelly successfully pushed to block earlier retirement plans through defense legislation, citing the need to sustain the capability.

The largest share of the A-10 fleet is based at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, where the aircraft contributes significantly to the local economy and employment.

While extending the platform ensures continued availability in current operations, Air Force officials have cautioned that maintaining the aging fleet places additional strain on maintenance resources needed for next-generation aircraft development.

The latest move underscores a continued balancing act between modernization priorities and immediate operational requirements.

Taiwan has repeatedly flagged delays in U.S. arms shipments, as it faces mounting military pressure from China, which claims the island as its territory. The United States remains Taiwan’s primary security partner and arms supplier despite the absence of formal diplomatic ties.

The United States approved an $8 billion sale in 2019 involving Lockheed Martin, aimed at expanding Taiwan’s fleet to more than 200 F-16 aircraft. The programme has encountered setbacks, including software-related issues that slowed delivery timelines.

Deputy Defence Minister Hsu Szu-chien, accompanied by Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff Tien Chung-yi, visited the F-16V assembly line in South Carolina earlier this week to inspect the first completed aircraft, the ministry said.

Lockheed Martin has assigned several hundred personnel to the programme, and production is proceeding at full capacity on a two-shift schedule, with no reported bottlenecks in parts supply or manpower, according to Taiwan’s statement.

The F-16V fighter jets represent a new configuration tailored for Taiwan, requiring ongoing test flights to refine avionics and systems performance. The defence ministry said these tests must be conducted carefully before full delivery proceeds.

Taiwan has already upgraded 141 older F-16A/B aircraft to the F-16V standard and has ordered 66 new jets equipped with enhanced radar, weapons systems and avionics designed to counter advanced aircraft such as J-20 fighter jet deployed by China.

Lockheed Martin said it was working closely with the U.S. government to accelerate deliveries and remained committed to supporting Taiwan’s defence requirements.