Posted on March 25, 2013 by Fighter Country
There are two reasons I believe Luke Air Force Base is at more risk now than it was during the base selection process for the F-35.
Sequestration and BRAC, which is Base Realignment and Closure.
The Department of Defense (DoD) has announced that it will seek two rounds of base closures, one in 2015 followed by another in 2017. Apparently DoD wanted to do a BRAC last year but that was stymied by Congress, who just happened to be up for reelection.
Posted on January 11, 2013 by Fighter Country
An F-22 squadron slated to move from New Mexico to Florida early this year will stay put until early 2014.
The transfer from Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., to Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., involves 620 active-duty and 230 Reserve airmen, and 21 F-22s and seven T-38 Talons. As a part of the shuffle, Holloman, in spring 2014, will receive two F-16 squadrons with 950 personnel authorizations from Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. Luke will eventually host three F-35A squadrons.
Posted on November 2, 2012 by Fighter Country
Luke Forward received Westmarc’s Special 20th Anniversary Best of the West Award for championing one of the West Valley’s biggest accomplishments — Luke Air Force Base landing the F-35 training center.
The region’s biggest awards were given during a banquet Thursday at the Renaissance Glendale Hotel attended by about 500. Westmarc, a coalition of business, government, education and community-group leaders that lobbies on behalf of the West Valley, launched the awards program two decades ago to promote outstanding contributions to the West Valley.
Posted on August 6, 2012 by Fighter Country
WE DID IT – THANKS TO ALL OF YOU WHO SUPPORTED LUKE FORWARD!!!
GLENDALE, Ariz. – After spending nearly three years building regional and statewide community support for the new F-35 mission at Luke Air Force Base, Luke Forward officials are thrilled with today’s announcement from the Department of Defense that the Glendale base will serve as the Air Force’s new F-35 training center.
The Air Force’s decision to station 72 F-35s for the training of both U.S. and foreign pilots, with the potential to add more F-35 squadrons in the near future, reaffirms an ongoing commitment by the Air Force to the long-term viability of Luke AFB.
Posted on February 29, 2012 by rsites
For those who have not followed the F-35 EIS process closely, let me explain how important the month of February was. The Environmental Impact Statement for the F-35 mission has been an ongoing process for years, and we reached a large milestone for the week of February 13th thru February 16th.
This was the public’s opportunity to comment on the Draft EIS released for each base after years of hard work…
Posted on January 20, 2012 by Fighter Country
The long awaited draft EIS was announced today which sets in motion the process for determining the likelihood of stationing up to 6 squadrons of F-35′s at Luke AFB. The F-35A is the Air Force’s variant of the Joint Strike Fighter, which will replace the F-16 Falcon, F-15 Eagle and the A-10 Thunderbolt as the military’s new multi-role fighter…
Key Dates to Remember:
- January 20, 2012 - Public release of the F-35A Training Draft EIS
- January 20, 2012 – March 14, 2012 - Public hearings for Luke AFB, Arizona
- February 13-16, 2012 - Public comment period for F-35A Training Draft EIS closes
- Summer 2012 - Release of Final F-35A Training EIS
- Summer 2012 - Issuance of USAF F-35A Training EIS Record of Decision
Posted on February 11, 2010 by Fighter Country
The Yuma community received some reassurance Tuesday that the Marine Corps Air Station will be at the forefront of military technology in the coming years.
A representative of the local base, Lt. Col. Geoffrey Olander, told a community support group that indications are that MCAS Yuma will get its first F-35 Joint Strike Fighters in May 2012…
