Fresno’s Air National Guard base will have to wait longer than expected to get new fighter jets.
That’s because of a decision by President Donald Trump to put a squadron of new F-15EX jets at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Michigan, a move that will slow the deployment of those jets to other bases across the nation.
Driving the news: Trump made a surprise announcement last month when he revealed that Selfridge would receive a squadron of Boeing F-15EX jets.
- Selfrdige was losing its A-10 Warthogs to retirement and was at risk of losing its entire tactical flying mission as well before the announcement secured its future.
Why it mattersThe Fresno Air National Guard Base was one of three bases in the nation that the Air Force previously announced will receive the F-15EX jets, along with bases in Oregon and Louisiana.
- Fresno’s 144th Fighter Wing is slated to receive a squadron of 18 jets from the Air Force.
- But the Air Force does not currently have the capacity to train enough F-15EX pilots fast enough to staff the 144th Fighter Wing in light of the Selfridge decision.
What they’re saying: Rep. David Valadao (R–Hanford) raised concerns to acting Air Force secretary Gary Ashworth during a House Appropriations Committee oversight hearing on Tuesday.
- Valadao asked if the Selfridge decision will impact the Air National Guard wings that are currently slated to receive new jets.
- “I can say to you right now that there is likely a downstream impact on some other Air National Guard units, including Fresno,” Ashworth said.
- Ashworth told Valadao that he commits to mitigating the delay in sending the new F-15EX jets to Fresno.
- “We’ll do everything that we can to make sure that the missions stay whole as we move forward,” Ashworth said.
