Air Force officials announced on Wednesday that Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Harrison Township may serve as a new home for the F-35 fighter jet in the coming years.
The Air Force picked five potential bases to host the new F-35 Lightning II, with two to be chosen next spring. Selfridge, located on Lake St. Clair in Harrison Township, currently serves as home for 18 A-10 aircraft, which will be replaced by the F-35 over the next several years, according to plans put forward by the Air Force brass.
According to the proposal announced today, up to 18 F-35s could arrive at the two chosen bases in 2022.
“We’re excited about this initial selection. Selfridge clearly represents the first, best choice to house the world’s most advanced multi-role fighter,” said Brig. Gen. John D. Slocum, commander of the 127th Wing at Selfridge. “Couple that with the proven war-fighting capability of our Michigan citizen-airmen — battle-tested pilots, maintainers, and support personnel — and Selfridge is the clear choice for this new mission.”
Manufacture of the F-35 prototype began in 2003. The first deployments of the fighter jet began in 2015.
The Air Force conducted a review of all existing Air Force bases in making the selection of finalists for the locations of the fighter aircraft, ranking the bases based on existing infrastructure, environmental concerns, training opportunities and cost factors.
According to Tech. Sgt. Dan Heaton, a spokesman for the 127th, a review team will now visit the five bases and submit a final recommendation to the Secretary of the Air Force by spring 2017.
Selfridge is a key contributor to the Macomb County economy and deployment of F-35s to the 3,600-acre facility could certainly secure its future for decades. The base is one of the last remaining large military installations in Michigan.
Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan said the F-35 would be a perfect fit given Selfridge’s history of handling a variety of aircraft, including F-16 fighter jets.
Congresswoman Candice Miller of Macomb County, who will be retiring from Capitol Hill at the end of the month, said she was pleased with the Air Force’s planning.
“Throughout my entire career, I have fought to ensure that the A-10 fleet was not retired until the Air Force could put forward an equally capable follow-on platform, and there is no better place to host this follow-on platform, the F-35, than Selfridge Air National Guard Base,” the Harrison Township Republican said in a statement.
The Air National Guard forces based at Selfridge have handled numerous missions in Afghanistan, Iraq and other Middle Eastern locations.
The F-35 has been plagued by numerous technical problems and cost overruns during its long transition from a prototype to the Air Force’s foremost – and most expensive — aircraft. Air Force generals have tried for several years to replace the aging A-10s with a substitute, preferably the F-35, arguing that the new plane can handle a variety of missions, from air-to-air combat to low-flying protection of ground troops.
Stars & Stripes reported earlier this week that the new defense bill approved by the House on Tuesday requires an in-air showdown between the A-10 and the F-35 (pictured above) before the 1970s-era jet, known as the “Warthog,” can be retired.
The Senate is expected to vote this week on a defense authorization bill that includes the language requiring a side-by-side competition between the two planes engaging in tactical low-altitude maneuvers. The Pentagon’s Operational Test and Evaluation office will oversee the fly-off.
In her statement, Miller added this:
“Last year, the 127th Wing was named the ‘Top Flying Unit’ in the National Guard because of the brave men and women who serve there and their unparalleled performance in battle. However, Selfridge, a strategically located northern border base, is also perfectly positioned to host the assets that safeguard both our national and homeland security.
“The servicemen and women who (serve) there, their prime real estate, and world-class facilities are some of the many factors that work in our favor as the Air Force considers which bases will host the F-35s. The consideration of Selfridge itself demonstrates that the Air Force is investing in and committed to the men and women who serve there, our community, and our state, and I am confident that they will find Selfridge a prime location for the F-35 unit.”
Photos: Air Force and Lockheed Martin
