Air dominance is America’s first line of defense

OPINION:

“Air power is like oxygen. When you have enough, you don’t think about it. When you don’t have enough, that’s all you can think about.” — General Frank Gorenc (former Commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa)

Air dominance is fundamental to America’s ability to defend our nation, protect our service members, support our allies and deter our adversaries. Congress has a responsibility under Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution to ensure our military has the capabilities, resources and readiness necessary to meet them.

Maintaining air dominance requires more than buying new aircraft. It also means preserving proven capabilities when they remain relevant. Consider a farmer who keeps an old John Deere tractor running long beyond its expected service life. It may not be the newest machine, but it is reliable, the farmer knows how to maintain it and he knows what it can do. The same principle can apply to America’s aircraft fleet. Some platforms are new while others are older, but battle-tested. Congress must ultimately determine whether each provides capabilities our warfighters need to meet tomorrow’s threats.

The A-10 Thunderbolt II is a compelling case study. For generations, A-10 pilots have flown into demanding combat environments while troops on the ground have depended on the aircraft when lives were at stake. It is now being replaced by the F-35 Lightning II, a modern aircraft designed for a broader range of missions, but not comparable to the A-10 in its traditional close air support role. This transition raises important questions about capability, cost and training, including the cost per flying hour of an F-35 versus an A-10 for CAS missions and the specialized training required for those missions.

For years, the Air Force has sought to divest the A-10 fleet, while Congress has repeatedly pushed back. Recognizing the value of a proven combat aircraft, I was proud to offer an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act requiring the Air Force to maintain at least 93 A-10C “Warthog” aircraft during Fiscal Year 2026.

Operation Epic Fury further demonstrates why this debate deserves careful consideration. The A-10 executed combat missions against Iran even as the Air Force sought to accelerate its retirement. Its continued use demonstrates that older aircraft can retain significant combat value. That does not mean the A-10 should remain in service indefinitely, but rather that we should fully assess the capabilities it can provide before retiring the remaining fleet.

The changing threat environment may also create new missions for the A-10. Congress should examine its potential role in counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS). Drones are an increasingly important threat on modern battlefields, and our allies need affordable and effective ways to protect their forces and critical infrastructure. While the A-10 was not designed specifically for counter-drone operations, its endurance, weapons capacity, sensors, cannon and ability to operate from established airfields make it worth evaluating for certain missions.

We should also examine whether the Foreign Military Sales program could offer suitable A-10s to capable allies and partners. If a John Deere tractor has served you well but you no longer need it, you would not necessarily send it to the boneyard simply because you bought a newer model. You might give it to a neighbor who could still put it to work. The same principle could apply to the A-10. If an aircraft can still provide meaningful capabilities to an ally particularly against the growing drone threat we should consider transferring it to capable partners before sending it to the boneyard.

Simultaneously, modernization must continue. America needs modern stealth aircraft, resilient tankers, advanced intelligence and surveillance platforms, electronic warfare capabilities and survivable fighters capable of operating in contested airspace. Air dominance is about more than aircraft; it depends on the pilots who fly them, maintainers who keep them ready, bases and infrastructure that support them and the industrial base that sustains them.

The A-10 has earned its place in American military history. Its continued performance in combat reminds us that a platform’s value should be measured not simply by its age, but by what it can still accomplish.

Congress bears the responsibility of balancing modernization with readiness. We owe it to our service members and taxpayers to build the force of the future without discarding proven capabilities before we are certain their mission is truly finished.

• Rep. Austin Scott is in his eighth term as the U.S. Representative for Georgia’s Eighth Congressional District. His committee assignments include the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, the House Armed Services Committee, the House Agriculture Committee and the House Committee on Rules.