6 Fighter Jets The US Military Is Quietly Phasing Out & What’s Replacing Them

America’s tactical aviation fleet is entering one of the most consequential transition periods since the end of the Cold War. From the retirement of battle-proven fighters such as the McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle and AV-8B Harrier II to the gradual drawdown of specialized aircraft like the Fairchild Republic A-10 Warthog and early-block Lockheed F-22 Raptors, the US military is reshaping its airpower structure around stealth, sensor fusion, and unmanned integration. For aviation enthusiasts and defense experts, these retirements matter because they reveal not only which aircraft are leaving service, but also the operational and financial realities driving the Pentagon’s future combat doctrine.