SEC. 147. MODIFICATION TO MINIMUM INVENTORY REQUIREMENT FOR A–10 AIRCRAFT.(a) In General.—Section 134(d) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114–328; 130 Stat. 2038) is amended by striking “96 A–10 aircraft designated as primary mission aircraft inventory until a period of 90 days has elapsed following the date on which the Secretary submits to the congressional defense committees the report under subsection (e)(2)” and inserting “93 A–10 aircraft designated as primary mission aircraft inventory until October 1, 2026”.(b) Prohibition on Retirement.—(1) In general.—During the period beginning on October 1, 2025 and ending on September 30, 2026, the Secretary of the Air Force may not—(A) reduce funding for unit personnel or weapon system sustainment activities for A–10 aircraft in a manner that presumes future congressional authority to divest such aircraft;(B) keep an A–10 aircraft in a status considered excess to the requirements of the possessing command and awaiting disposition instructions (commonly referred to as “XJ” status); or(C) decrease the total aircraft inventory of A–10 aircraft below 103 aircraft.(2) Exception.—The prohibition under paragraph (1) shall not apply to individual A–10 aircraft that the Secretary of the Air Force determines, on a case-by-case basis, to be no longer mission capable and uneconomical to repair because of aircraft accidents, mishaps, or excessive material degradation and non-airworthiness status of certain aircraft.(c) Briefing Required.—Not later than March 31, 2026, the Secretary of the Air Force shall provide to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a briefing on the status of A–10 aircraft inventory and the proposed plan for divesting all A–10 aircraft prior to fiscal year 2029. The briefing shall cover, at a minimum, the following
1) The number of A–10 Total Aircraft Inventory aircraft disaggregated by Combat Coded Aircraft, Primary Mission Aircraft Inventory, Backup Aircraft Assigned, Attrition Reserve, tail number, and location.(2) The planned divestment date of each such aircraft.(3) The detailed plan for how and when the Secretary proposes to proceed with divestment of aircraft for each A–10 unit prior to fiscal year 2029.(4) The aircraft transition plan for replacing A–10 aircraft with new or existing replacement aircraft in each unit that is divesting of the A–10 aircraft, which shall include an explanation of—(A) how the Secretary plans to minimize adverse personnel impacts within such units, including adverse impacts with respect to retention, currency, proficiency, qualifications, certifications, and training; and(B) how the Secretary plans to minimize or eliminate any scheduling gap that may occur with respect to a unit divesting from the A–10 aircraft and transitioning to a new or existing replacement aircraft.(5) The information and content format that was provided in the briefing to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives by the Headquarters Air Force, Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs (HAF/A8), on February 13, 2023, titled “A–10 Divestment Placemats”.(6) Any other information the Secretary determines relevant.
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