The 357th Fighter Squadron graduated its final A-10C Thunderbolt II scholar pilots at Davis-Monthan Air Pressure Base, marking the top of an period for the only formal coaching unit for A-10 pilots.
The U.S. Air Pressure has now ended the coaching of latest A-10C Thunderbolt II pilots, in one other step in direction of the retirement of the plane. The truth is, on Apr. 3, 2026, the 357th Fighter Squadron graduated the final class of A-10 scholar pilots at Davis-Monthan Air Pressure Base, Arizona.
The scholars accomplished their mission qualification coaching in mid-March, in keeping with photographs launched by the service on the DVIDS community on Mar. 20. The pictures described {that a} shut air help train was the culminating occasion of the course.
Among the many visitor audio system for the commencement was Retired U.S. Air Pressure Col. Kim “KC” Campbell, a widely known recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross for saving her crippled A-10 after taking heavy anti-aircraft artillery (AAA) harm throughout Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. She is named one of many few A-10 pilots who efficiently landed the A-10 by utilizing the Handbook Reversion Flight Management System (MRFCS), the emergency mode which makes use of old-school cables and pulleys to fly the jet after shedding hydraulics.
The service, within the captions of the commencement’s pictures, says the ceremony marks a historic second and the top of an period for A-10 coaching. These new pilots will now transfer to their assigned items to proceed their certification coaching.
Whereas the coaching of latest pilots has now ended with this closing class, the A-10 remains to be anticipated to fly for some extra years. The truth is, the Warthog (because the plane is nicknamed throughout the fighter pilot neighborhood) remains to be in heavy use and had a distinguished function within the operations over Iran.
The significance of the platform can also be demonstrated by the latest testing of a brand new Probe Refueling Adapter, developed in response to an pressing combatant command requirement, which now permits the A-10 to refuel by way of probe and drogue aerial refueling tankers. Notably, in December 2025, the Air Pressure inactivated the fortieth Flight Check Squadron’s Detachment 1 which was accountable for A-10 testing, thus the brand new probe was examined by the Air Nationwide Guard Air Pressure Reserve Command Check Middle (AATC).
357th Fighter Squadron
The 357th Fighter Squadron, also referred to as the ‘Dragons’, is the only formal coaching unit for A-10 pilots within the Air Pressure. Its function is to coach pilots in battlefield surveillance and reconnaissance, in addition to methods to plan, coordinate, execute and management day and evening shut air help, says the service.
The course, which lasts six months, graduates roughly 70 total-force pilots yearly, as Air Nationwide Guard pilots are additionally educated there along with active-duty pilots. College students undergo round 40 flights, accompanied by flight simulator sorties and tutorial classes, earlier than qualifying as combat-ready pilots and proceed to their assigned items.
The course begins with the fundamentals on methods to fly the A-10C, adopted by an air-to-air part to show college students methods to battle and defend themselves from an adversary plane. That is adopted by floor assaults, starting with the fundamentals reminiscent of unguided munitions and the GAU-8 30 mm gun earlier than shifting to extra superior weapons and ways in additional advanced shut air help eventualities.
Along with new A-10 pilots, the squadron additionally trains new teacher pilots and re-qualify A-10 pilots which have hung out in non-flying positions.
The A-10’s Divestment
The A-10’s divestment has been controversial because the Air Pressure has been making an attempt to do away with it for years, with the Congress intervening to keep away from shedding a crucial CAS functionality. The controversy stems from the A-10 not thought of survivable in trendy contested environments with Anti-Entry/Space Denial (A2/AD) networks, whereas it nonetheless stays extremely succesful in permissive eventualities.
The retirement date has been topic to a number of variations all through the years, with the service aiming to retire all of the 162 A-10s nonetheless in stock in FY2026, reasonably than step by step part them out till 2029 as initially deliberate. Nonetheless, the 2025 Nationwide Protection Authorization Act rejects the Air Pressure’s plan and solely permits the retirement of 59 A-10s.
The draw back of the Congress’ A-10 rescue is that the service didn’t embody funding for sustainment of the fleet within the FY2026 finances. The Air Pressure estimated that this could have required $423 million, which it deliberate to divert to different applications with the Warthog’s retirement.
In the meantime, the A-10s remains to be a distinguished platform within the stock of the U.S. Air Pressure, and is on the frontlines of the operations over Iran. These additionally noticed the Warthog, because of its versatility, employed towards One Manner Assault (OWA) drones and to seek out Iranian quick assault watercraft within the Strait of Hormuz.
