Prohibition on retirement of A–10 aircraft

(a) Prohibition None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2026 for the Department of Defense may be obligated or expended to retire, prepare to retire, or otherwise divest A–10 aircraft to an inventory level below 103. (b) Waiver authority The Secretary of the Air Force may waive the prohibition under subsection (a) with respect to a specific unit if— (1) the Secretary submits to the congressional defense committees a written certification that a detailed recapitalization plan has been developed for the affected unit, including follow on mission assignments, aircraft reallocation, personnel adjustments, and community impact mitigation; and (2) a period of 30 days has elapsed following the date of such submission. (c) Definitions In this section: (1) A–10 aircraft The term A–10 aircraft means any aircraft of the Air Force designated A–10 Thunderbolt II. (2) Retire The term retire includes the permanent removal of an aircraft from the operational inventory, reassignment to storage, or placement into backup aircraft inventory or excess status.

(a) Prohibition None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2026 for the Department of Defense may be obligated or expended to retire, prepare to retire, or otherwise divest A–10 aircraft to an inventory level below 103. (b) Waiver authority The Secretary of the Air Force may waive the prohibition under subsection (a) with respect to a specific unit if— (1) the Secretary submits to the congressional defense committees a written certification that a detailed recapitalization plan has been developed for the affected unit, including follow on mission assignments, aircraft reallocation, personnel adjustments, and community impact mitigation; and (2) a period of 30 days has elapsed following the date of such submission. (c) Definitions In this section: (1) A–10 aircraft The term A–10 aircraft means any aircraft of the Air Force designated A–10 Thunderbolt II. (2) Retire The term retire includes the permanent removal of an aircraft from the operational inventory, reassignment to storage, or placement into backup aircraft inventory or excess status.