Anchorage, AK – After months of waiting and speculation, the United States Air Force has officially selected Eielson Air Force Base as the preferred location for two squadrons of F-35A fighters. In a call to the Alaska Congressional Delegation this morning, the Secretary of the Air Force announced that following an environmental impact study (EIS) and official record of decision,  Eielson AFB should receive its first of 48 F-35 fighters in the summer of 2019.

“Today is a great day for Eielson AFB, North Pole, Fairbanks, and the state of Alaska; it’s been announced that Eielson AFB is the Air Force’s preferred location to house the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter,” said Congressman Young. “In Alaska, it’s always been about the mission.  From the interceptors at Greely to the combat-coded F-22s at JBER, the U.S. military truly understands Alaska strategic position. I am pleased to say today that the Air Force continues this understanding by placing the world’s most premiere fighter aircraft at Eielson.

“This has certainly been a labor of love for me and the many individuals who fought to bring the F-35 to Alaska. In this year’s defense authorization I was able to secure important language to let the Air Force know that Congress was behind the decision to station the F-35 at Eielson.  I am pleased that they listened, but more importantly that they understood how critically important Eielson is to this nation and the safety and security of the American people. Today’s world is littered with threats, especially in the Pacific region. I believe that the presence of the F-35 in Alaska, in addition to the existing F-22s, will send a powerful message to our adversaries that the U.S. intends to make the Pacific and Arctic a priority.” 

Following an EIS, the Air Force will make its final record of decision in the fall of 2015. Today, Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James said that the F-35 would bring approximately $37M in military construction in FY 2016 and nearly $150 million in FY 2017 to Eielson AFB.

Congressman Young has long been a proponent of the F-35 coming to Eielson AFB. In recent months, he included an amendment to the H.R. 4435, the Fiscal Year 2015 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), to express the Sense of Congress for basing criteria of the two OCONUS F-35A squadrons, which included emphasis on conditions only found at Eielson AFB:

• Sufficient range capabilities and airspace for training
• Ability to robustly train with our international partners
• Presence of existing facilities to support operations
• A limited amount of encroachment

For his work on the crucial F-35 amendment, the Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly and Mayor Luke Hopkins honored Congressman Young with a resolution thanking him for his work. To view the FNSB resolution, please click here.

  air force, Alaska, base, don young, eielson, f-35, preferred location