Air Force announces preferred basing alternatives for F-35

  • Published
  • Headquarters Air Force Public Affairs
MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho --  Today the Air Force announced the preferred alternatives for operational and training F-35 Joint Strike Fighter bases.

Teams surveyed each candidate base for feasibility, timing, cost and planning purposes to meet initial operational capability timelines.

The preferred alternative locations are:
- Operations - Hill Air Force Base, Utah, and Burlington Air Guard Station, Vt.
- Training - Luke AFB, Ariz.

"I'd like to congratulate Hill Air Force Base and Burlington Air Guard Station for being selected as preferred alternatives to host a future F-35 operational mission," said Col. Ron Buckley, 366th Fighter Wing commander. "I understand this news may be disappointing to many Idahoans, but I think it is important to remember this is not a final basing decision and that Mountain Home Air Force Base remains a strong candidate and will still continue to be evaluated in the Environmental Impact Analysis process."

He added that the public is strongly encouraged to participate in public hearings after the draft Environmental Impact Statement is released later this fall.

"The Air Force currently plans to purchase more than 1,700 F-35's," he said. "If our base is not selected in 2011 when the Air Force makes its final decision on where to base the first round of F-35's, we will be considered again in the next round of basing decisions which will be in two to three years after this round is complete."

As for Idaho's hopes to secure an F-35 mission, the colonel said, "We greatly appreciate Idaho's overwhelming support to bring the F-35 operational mission here and we also understand some of the concerns Idahoans have. We encourage everyone to stay involved in the process and actively participate since there will be many opportunities to voice support and express concerns on a possible F-35 mission in Idaho."

A preferred alternative is an alternative which the Air Force believes best fulfills its mission and responsibilities, taking into consideration environmental, operational, technical and other factors.

Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley previously announced five operations candidate bases Oct. 29, 2009. They included Hill Air Force Base, Utah; Mountain Home AFB, Idaho; Shaw AFB/McEntire Joint National Guard Base, S.C.; Burlington Air Guard Station, Vt.; and Jacksonville AGS, Fla.

The secretary announced training base candidates Oct. 29, 2009. They included Boise AGS, Idaho; Eglin AFB, Fla.; Holloman AFB, N.M.; Luke AFB, Ariz.; and Tucson AGS, Ariz.

The current scope of this basing action includes 250 to 300 F-35 aircraft.

The JSF is the next generation strike fighter bringing cutting-edge technologies to the battle space of the future. In the Air Force, the F-35 will primarily service an air-to-ground role, replace aging F-16 and A-10 aircraft while complementing the F-22. The Navy and Marine Corps plan on using the F-35, along with international partners.

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