Even the Americans are forced to withdraw large quantities of weapons systems as the cost of maintaining them has become disproportionately high and prevents the development of new technologies.

Congress has published the NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act) for the year 2022, under which the US Air Force can retire 164 aircraft and UAVs, but not the A-10C Thunderbolt II.

The withdrawal of the aircraft was allowed in order to save funds, which will be invested in the development of new technologies. Except for the A-10C, which the US Air Force has wanted to retire for years, but Congress stubbornly refuses to approve, the law accepted all other retirement proposals submitted by the US Air Force.

In total, in 2022 the US Air Force will retire 47 F-16C/D Fighting Falcon fighters, 48 F-15C/D Eagle fighters, four E-8 JSTARS (Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System) ground surveillance aircraft, 20 RQ-4 Global Hawk Block. 30 unmanned systems, 18 KC-135 and 14 KC-10 aerial refuelling aircraft and 13 C-130H Hercules transport aircraft (five of which will be replaced by new C-130J Super Hercules). As for the A-10C, the US Air Force wanted to withdraw 42 aircraft in 2022, but in the end the request was not approved.