JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville is one of the five locations that the U.S. Air Force is evaluating as finalists to host Lockheed Martin's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Ultimately, two locations will be chosen.
News4Jax spoke to retired U.S. Navy Admiral Bob Natter, who believes Jacksonville’s infrastructure makes it a prime candidate for the fighter jets.
“Jacksonville has the qualities, hands down, to win this thing,” Natter said. “What we need is the politicians behind it.”
If it is chosen, Jacksonville would make the transition from the F-15 fighter jets that are currently stationed there to the new F-35 as early as 2022. The F-35 program comes with an estimated cost of $400 billion.
In addition to Jacksonville, the other four finalists considered are Montgomery, Alabama; Boise, Idaho; Selfridge, Michigan; and Dane County, Wisconsin.
“If you look at (the) strictly military value of the various sites considered for basing these F-35s, there is no doubt Jacksonville has a chance, and, in my opinion, Jacksonville is the leader,” Natter said.
Lockheed Martin says the fighter would account for 14,700 jobs in Florida, with an annual economic impact just over $3 billion.
“I believe our elected officials had better get behind this. The governor, the two senators and congressmen, and I know the mayor is behind it,” Natter said. “The mayor is working hard to help with this.”
A decision as to whether Jacksonville will get the fighter jets or not is expected to be made in the spring.