Air Force Reserve Command selects 442nd Fighter Wing at Whiteman as sole candidate to replace A-10s with F-15Es

Published Jul 30, 07:18 PM UTC

The 442nd Fighter Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, has been selected as the sole candidate location by Air Force Reserve Command to replace its A-10 Warthogs with 24 F-15E Strike Eagles, securing the unit's flying mission. Representative Mark Alford announced the decision on July 29, noting it is the first of several regulatory steps, including an environmental impact analysis. The first F-15Es are expected to arrive in 2031, bridging the gap as the A-10s are retired by the end of 2028. The decision comes amid broader Air Force efforts to divest legacy aircraft like the A-10, which leaders deem less survivable in future high-end conflicts. The move prevents the unit from losing experienced pilots and maintainers, a fate that has befallen other Guard and Reserve units that transitioned to non-flying missions.