ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) —
The Department of the Air Force selected Warfield Air National Guard Base, Maryland, as the preferred location to transition from an A-10 to a cyber wing mission.
Replacing the aging A-10 Thunderbolt IIs at the 175th Fighter Wing with a cyber mission will create a natural synergy between cyber assets at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, and the 175th Cyberspace Operations Group already operating out of Warfield ANGB.
The transition of the 175th Fighter Wing to a cyber wing also aligns the Maryland Air National Guard with an enduring modern mission that meets the requirements of the National Defense Strategy. Warfield ANGB is not precluded from being considered for other potential missions in the future.
Divestment of the 21 A-10s at Warfield ANGB is forecasted to begin in fall 2024. Manpower numbers are expected to remain neutral but will be finalized over the next year.
The Department of the Air Force will now conduct environmental impact analysis for the cyber wing, which is expected to be completed by fall 2025 before a final decision is made.