The House Armed Services Committee (HASC) has included several A-10 Thunderbolt II modernization provisions in its version of the FY2027 National Defense Authorization Act, as reported by Defense One on June 8, 2026.
An amendment proposed by Rep. Abraham Hamadeh (R-AZ) directs Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Air Force Secretary Troy Meink, and the leaders of Air Combat Command and U.S. Central Command to report by January 15, 2027, on “potential incremental modernization options for the A-10 aircraft, including electronic warfare capabilities, decoy or stand-in effects delivery, aerial refueling enhancements, digital communications, sensor integration, precision weapons integration, survivability improvements, open-systems architecture, and human-machine teaming applications.”
The amendment also calls for analysis of whether currently programmed Air Force capabilities can replicate the A-10’s historical operational effects in rescue mission commander, close air support, armed overwatch, forward air controller-airborne, and personnel recovery support missions. A separate provision asks whether A-10 mission success from the 1990s to present could inform development of autonomous collaborative aircraft, AI-enabled mission planning, digital battlefield communications, and distributed air-ground integration.
Another Hamadeh amendment would make retired A-10 aircraft and equipment available for research on autonomous or semi-autonomous aircraft integration. Rep. John McGuire (R-VA) inserted an amendment evaluating potential transfer of retiring A-10s to other military services.
The provisions follow the aircraft’s role in Operation Epic Fury and the Air Force’s subsequent commitment to keep some squadrons flying until 2030. The A-10 has also demonstrated a drone-kill capability using APKWS II rockets, with at least two confirmed air-to-air UAS engagements reported. The HASC version passed 44-12; provisions must receive further House and Senate approvals before inclusion in the final NDAA.
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