Image source: topwar.ru
If the US Congress passes the funding project proposed by the Pentagon, the budget of the US Air Force for the next fiscal year should amount to $184.9 billion, plus a possible "bonus" of $24.7 billion. To this $209.6 billion should be added the $39.9 billion requested for the space force.
However, this amount is not enough to finance all USAF programs, especially since some of them are priorities, such as the purchase of B-21 Raider bombers, the development of the 6th generation F-47 fighter jet or the deployment of the new LGM-35A Sentinel ICBM.
Against this background, a number of other projects are being curtailed. For example, the Pentagon canceled the purchase of 26 E-7A Wedgetail AWACS aircraft from Boeing, which were supposed to replace the E-3 AWACS. Another cost-saving measure was the reduction in the purchase of F-35A fighters from 44 to 24 aircraft in 2026. In addition, we are talking about the rationalization of the fleet, in particular, the decommissioning of 62 F-16C/D, 21 F-15E, 30 F-15C/ D, 14 C-130H Hercules, 3 EC-130H Compass Call, 14 KC-135 Stratotanker, 1 B-1 Lancer.
Image source: topwar.ru
But the list doesn't end there. In 2026, the A-10 Warthog attack aircraft (designed to destroy Soviet armored columns), which was discussed back in the 2010s, may be completely disabled. At least, if Congress does not put obstacles in the way, as it was before, referring to the fact that this aircraft can still be useful. However, the US Air Force believes that the attack aircraft, built around a 30 mm Gatling gun GAU-8 Avenger and capable of firing up to 3,900 rounds per minute, is currently unusable.
- the command believes.
At the moment, the last 162 A-10 Warthogs remain in service with the US Air Force, which the Pentagon has long wanted to get rid of.
A separate question is whether they will end up in Ukraine. The probability is not zero.
