Bipartisan BRRRRT Act would force US Air Force to keep at least 126 A-10 Warthogs

Published Jul 22, 09:10 PM UTC

A bipartisan House bill, the BRRRRT Act (H.R. 9780), introduced by Rep. Abe Hamadeh (R-Ariz.) and co-led by Rep. Don Davis (D-N.C.), would require the U.S. Air Force to maintain at least 126 A-10 Thunderbolt II Warthogs, significantly more than the service's planned floor of 103. The bill would force the Air Force to reverse depot closures, pilot training pipeline dismantlement, and weapons course wind-downs. It also mandates that the defense secretary certify a fully operational replacement—with concurrence from the Army, Marine Corps, and SOCOM—before further retirements. The legislation comes amid ongoing A-10 combat operations in Iran and combat search and rescue missions, and as the Air Force has not identified a direct successor for close air support and CSAR roles. If the standalone bill fails, its provisions may be inserted into the annual defense authorization act.