The U.S. Air Force has completed the 66th Weapons Squadron’s final A-10C Thunderbolt II training flight at Nellis Air Force Base, ending the aircraft’s dedicated course within the U.S. Air Force Weapons School. The move further reduces the service’s ability to generate advanced A-10 tactical expertise as it draws down a fleet scheduled to remain in service only through 2030. The milestone follows the closure of the A-10 pilot training pipeline at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and marks another step in the gradual dismantling of the aircraft’s training infrastructure. Existing instructors can still sustain some qualification and continuation training, but the end of the Weapons School course will progressively narrow the pool of personnel trained to develop and teach the platform’s highest-level tactics during its remaining years of service. Read more.
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| An A-10C Thunderbolt II pilot prepares for a close air support training mission at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, on March 18, 2026, as the U.S. Air Force continues its transition away from the aircraft. (Picture source: US DoD) |