Full Report
The Warthog’s departure leaves the USAF's mastery of close air support in a tenuous transition. The post The A-10 Era Is Over At Nellis AFB appeared first on TWZ.
Analysis Summary
# Morning News Roll-up September 23, 2026
## Overview
The U.S. Air Force has officially concluded A-10 Thunderbolt II operations at Nellis Air Force Base, marking a pivotal shift in Close Air Support (CAS) doctrine. The transition involves redistributing specialized ground-attack expertise to multirole platforms like the F-15, F-16, and F-35, raising concerns about the potential loss of dedicated tactical proficiency.
## Top Stories
### The A-10 Era Is Over At Nellis AFB
- Summary: The final A-10 Thunderbolt II departed Nellis AFB on September 22, 2026, ending nearly 50 years of operations at the site. The departure signifies the closure of the 66th Weapons Squadron and a transition of the Close Air Support (CAS) mission to multirole fighter communities.
- Source: hxxps://www[.]twz[.]com/air/the-a-10-era-is-over-at-nellis-afb
### F-35A’s 25mm Gun Still Needs Tests To Verify It Works
- Summary: As the A-10 retires, its primary mission is being absorbed by newer platforms. However, the F-35A's internal 25mm gun continues to undergo testing to verify operational efficacy, highlighting potential gaps in immediate strafing and CAS capabilities.
- Source: hxxps://www[.]twz[.]com/air/f-35as-25mm-gun-still-needs-tests-to-verify-it-works
### A-10 Warthog To Soon Carry 16 Small Diameter Bombs In Combat
- Summary: Despite the phased retirement at key bases, technical upgrades continue for the remaining fleet, including the integration of GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs (SDB) to increase the aircraft's standoff and precision strike capacity.
- Source: hxxps://www[.]twz[.]com/a-10-warthog-to-soon-carry-16-small-diameter-bombs-in-combat
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# Main Topic
The decommissioning of A-10 Thunderbolt II operations at Nellis Air Force Base and the systemic transition of the U.S. Air Force (USAF) Close Air Support (CAS) mission to multirole airframes.
## Key Points
- **End of an Era:** The departure of the last A-10 from Nellis AFB on September 22, 2026, concludes a 49-year history of tactics development and testing at the facility.
- **Institutional Impact:** The closure of the 66th Weapons Squadron at Nellis removes a dedicated "ecosystem" for CAS expertise that had trained over 300 weapons officers.
- **Mission Redistribution:** CAS and Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) responsibilities are being distributed across F-15E/EX, F-16C/D, and F-35A platforms.
- **Capability Transition:** The USAF maintains that CAS capabilities are not being reduced, despite moving from a dedicated, survivable low-altitude platform to high-speed multirole fighters.
## Threat Actors
*Note: In this context, "threats" refer to strategic and operational risks to USAF mission readiness rather than malicious actors.*
- **Strategic Capability Gap:** The risk of losing specialized CAS culture and low-altitude persistence during the transition to multirole airframes.
- **Operational Vulnerability:** The potential inability of 4th and 5th generation aircraft to replicate the A-10's specific "loiter" and survivability profiles in contested ground environments.
## TTPs
- **Close Air Support (CAS):** Tactical employment of aircraft against ground targets in close proximity to friendly forces.
- **Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR):** Specialized mission set now being integrated into F-15, F-16, and F-35 training curriculums.
- **Tactics Development:** Refining software, avionics, and precision weapons (such as Small Diameter Bombs) to modernize remaining A-10 assets before final retirement.
## Affected Systems
- **A-10 Thunderbolt II:** The primary system being phased out of Nellis AFB and the 66th Weapons Squadron.
- **F-35 Lightning II:** The primary 5th-generation successor expected to absorb strike and CAS roles.
- **F-15E/EX Eagle & F-16 Fighting Falcon:** 4th-generation multirole platforms assuming distributed CAS responsibilities.
## Mitigations
- **Cross-Platform Training:** Involving multiple fighter communities in the U.S. Air Force Weapons School to preserve the "culture" of the A-10.
- **Precision Weapon Integration:** Increasing the stand-off capability of CAS platforms through weapons like the GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb.
- **Software/Avionics Upgrades:** Continued refinement of digital interfaces to ensure multirole pilots can effectively manage ground-support tasks.
## Conclusion
The departure of the A-10 from Nellis AFB represents a high-risk transition in aerial warfare doctrine. While the USAF aims to mitigate the loss of the Warthog by distributing its mission set, the move creates an operational challenge: ensuring that pilots of multirole fighters, who must master air-to-air and deep-strike missions, can maintain the same level of proficiency in the complex, high-risk environment of Close Air Support previously held by specialists.