Fort Smith Officially Selected as F-35, Singapore F-16 Training Location
I’m extremely excited to report that the ‘Sound of Freedom’ will soon be back in the River Valley! Earlier this week the Air Force officially selected Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith as the home of the F-35 Foreign Military Sales (FMS) training base and the permanent home of a Republic of Singapore F-16 squadron. This decision—known as the Record of Decision—finalizes the basing process started in 2021. The new mission is expected to include training of pilots from Singapore, Poland, Finland, Switzerland, and Germany along with pilots from countries that will acquire F-35s in the future.
From the beginning of the process, Fort Smith was a strong contender due to its central geographic location, existing infrastructure, exceptional military airspace, good flying weather, and proximity to other military missions. However, what truly set Fort Smith apart was its people and their desire to support our national defense. The Air Force informed me that they have rarely seen the level of enthusiasm from communities that Arkansans showed for this mission. I am excited our community will be able to demonstrate the Arkansas Traveler spirit to the Air Force and our foreign allies and partners who will now call Fort Smith their home.
The decision will be a true economic gamechanger for Fort Smith and the entire region. The economic development associated with a new military mission—including the new U.S. Air Force personnel, the foreign servicemembers, their families, and associated industry—will significantly enhance opportunity in the area.
This mission will also provide our country tremendous national security value. Training our allies and partners on the most advanced fighter aircraft in the world will allow them to support their own national defense and be net providers of security to the free world. The countries expected to train in Fort Smith are located in some of the most important geo-strategic areas in the world. While these areas are far from our borders, we know what happens in the South China Sea and in Eastern Europe can affect our lives in Arkansas. Training these countries on our advanced military systems is of significant value to our security interests as well as their own security goals.
Since the last A-10 flew off of the Ebbing runway for the final time, I have been laser focused on bringing a new, enduring flying mission to Fort Smith. We have finally accomplished that goal. By working with my friends Senator Boozman, Senator Cotton, Governor Sanders, former Governor Hutchinson, and local officials, we were able to tell Fort Smith’s story and showcase its advantages. Senator Boozman, Senator Cotton, and I were able to secure $28 million to support the F-35 FMS program in the recent Fiscal Year 2023 Appropriations Bills. Furthermore, the State and the City of Fort Smith delivered critical funding in support of an expanded runway and community leaders have demonstrated their commitment with investments in this project, warm welcomes to foreign dignitaries, and a widespread embrace of the project at public comment events.
There will be new challenges for us to address as we work with the Air Force to get this mission up and running but I am confident we will meet those issues head on and soon see F-35s and F-16s flying about the River Valley.
For more information on the new mission, click on the below link:
Sanders, Womack, Boozman, Cotton Applaud Selection of Fort Smith for F-35 Fighter Planes. Singapore Air Force Squadron
Wishing you a great weekend ahead! Be sure to check out my website, Twitter, and Instagram pages in the meantime. |