JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Florida Air National Guard's 125th Fighter Wing in Jacksonville has been named as one of the bases being considered by the U.S. Air Force to receive the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter Lightning II aircraft to replace its legacy F-15 Eagle in the near future.
The Florida Air National Guard base at Jacksonville International Airport was named one of 17 Air National Guard facilities being considered for basing the fifth-generation, multi-role F-35. The brand-new aircraft is the benchmark for America’s next generation of fighters and will initially supplement, and then replace, aging legacy fighters, FANG officials said in a news release.
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"It's better for the nation, better for our state and better for the wing here," said Col. Brian Bell, commander of the 125th Fighter Wing.
Many of the F-15 jets at the Jacksonville base are 30 years old.
The 125th has been in consideration for new jets before and came in second.
“Consideration by the Air Force to bring the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter to Jacksonville’s 125th Fighter Wing is an honor, but not a surprise,” said Maj. Gen. Michael Calhoun, the adjutant general of Florida. “We have the best facilities, airspace and pilots in the nation, and our community support is unparalleled.”
Bell said they hope this go-around they will land the new jets.
“We are a pretty good strategic base not only in terms of its location in the U.S. in the Southeast in defense of our country, but also location specific in Jacksonville for bringing that mission here,” Bell said.
The air guard employs about 1,000 people in Florida, and if the decision is made to bring the jets to Jacksonville, that could mean an increase in crews. Pilots and mechanics would have to be retrained.
“Not only are we upgrading legacy fighters that have been flying for the last 30 years -- as you can imagine, (there are many) maintenance issues associated with maintaining an aircraft that's been around in inventory for that long,” Bell said. “It's important for us to move forward.”
Calhoun explained that the F-35 would allow the Florida National Guard to continue to perform its mission and protect the skies of the southeastern United States for the next 50 years.
“This would be good for Florida, good for the Air Force and good for the nation,” he said.
The Air Force uses a formal process to make basing decisions, officials said. They hope to announce a decision next year.
The jets would not head to their new base until 2022.
As this selection process continues, updated information will be posted on the Florida National Guard web site at www.fl.ng.mil.