The F-35A Lightning, the nation’s newest fighter aircraft, may find its way to Michigan.
The Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs announced that Selfridge Air National Guard Base has been selected as one of five locations being considered for the F-35A Lightning. If Selfridge is selected, the F-35 would likely replace the A-10 Thunderbolt II that is currently assigned to the base and flown by the 107th Fighter Squadron.
“We are confident that we have made a very strong case that it is in the best interest of the nation to locate the F-35 at Selfridge,” said Maj. Gen. Gregory J. Vadnais, the adjutant general of Michigan. “Given the infrastructure at Selfridge and at our northern Michigan training facilities in Alpena and Grayling, it just makes sense, both operationally and fiscally, to base the F-35 in Michigan.”
The United States Air Force announced the finalists for consideration of the new fighter aircraft after a comprehensive review of mission requirements, including weather, airspace and training range availability; capacity of the base; environmental requirements; and cost factors at bases across the country.
The F-35 Lightning is the US Air Force’s latest fifth-generation fighter, and will replace the F-16 Fighting Falcons and A-10s, which have been the primary fighter aircraft for more than 20 years, the release states. Its aerodynamic performance and advanced integrated avionics, the F- 35A will provide next-generation stealth, enhanced situational awareness, and reduced vulnerability for the United States and allied nations.
According to the statement, a review team will visit each of the five bases early next year and submit the final recommendation in the Spring.
“Given that the fighter operations building and munitions facility at Selfridge are both less than 10 years old and that adequate hangar space for fighter aircraft already exists at Selfridge, there is a strong case to be made that the base could quickly adapt to the new mission requirements with minimal costs,” said Brig. Gen. John D. Slocum, commander of the Michigan Air National Guard’s 127th Wing, which is the host unit at Selfridge.
“But our greatest assets are the skilled group of Airmen – pilots, maintainers and all the related support personnel – who have proven themselves to be among the best in the Air Force,” Slocum said, noting that in 2016 the 127th Wing was awarded the Carl A. Spaatz Trophy as the top flying unit in the Air National Guard, followed by an Air Force Meritorious Unit Award, signifying superior performance in combat operations. “Our Airmen are truly building on a 100-year record of fighter aircraft excellence here at Selfridge,” he said. “We have the know-how and the necessary drive to be able to quickly adapt to and excel at the F-35 mission.”
If Selfridge is selected as a future F-35 base, the fighter aircraft would likely arrive in 2022.
Selfridge has a long history of fighter aircrafts. According to the release, the base opened in the early days of World War I, when fighter aircrafts were called “pursuit aeroplanes,” and featured canvas-covered wings and propellers. Since then, Selfridge Airmen have repeatedly adapted to the latest technology to take wing.
“As we moved through that transition, we learned that we were going to be needed in Afghanistan earlier than originally planned,” said Maj. Gen. Leonard Isabelle, Jr., commander of the Michigan Air National Guard and a former F-16 pilot who was serving as the commander of the 127th Operations Group, overseeing the transition at the time. “Our people buckled down and became mission-ready six months ahead of schedule. We were able to deploy overseas and complete our mission thanks to a lot of hard work and focus. Many of those same Airmen continue to serve today in our fighter and maintenance squadrons. It gives me great pride, and great comfort, to know that they are eagerly awaiting this next challenge.”
According to the release, more than 600 personnel, roughly 180 full-time positions and 450 part-time (traditional Guardsmen), are engaged in A-10 operations at Selfridge. It is expected that if the F-35 is located at the base that the local employment levels would remain mostly unchanged.
The base as a whole includes about 1,700 full-time military and civilian employees and about 2,600 part-time military personnel in the National Guard or Reserve. The base generates nearly $1 billion annually in economic impact to the local community.
