Air Force announces Guard locations for F-35A, F-15EX

Air Force announces Guard locations for F-35A, F-15EX
14 Aug 2020 Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs

"...Jacksonville Air National Guard Base, Florida, will begin receiving F-35 Lightning IIs in 2024;...

...The Air Force also plans to replace the remaining Air National Guard operational F-15C/D bases (Barnes Airport, Massachusetts, Fresno Yosemite Airport, California, and Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans) with either F-35As or F-15EXs. Naval Air Station Lemoore, California, is also being considered for F-35As....

...The Air Force will complete the required Environmental Impact Analysis Process before making a final decision.

Currently, four active duty operational locations — Hill Air Force Base, Utah; RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom; Eielson AFB, Alaska; and Tyndall AFB, Florida — have been identified to host the F-35A.

Additionally, three Air National Guard locations — Burlington ANGB, Vermont; Dannelly Field, Alabama; and Truax Field, Wisconsin; and one Air Force Reserve location – Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas — have been identified as F-35 locations."

Source: https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display ... 5a-f-15ex/

Interesting....Jacksonville is replacing it's F-15C's with F-35A's not with F-15EX's!


Also, why Naval Air Station Lemoore, California, is also being considered for F-35As???

Interesting that they didn't mention F-15C's from the 44th and 67th Fighter Squadrons based at Kadena AFB on Okinawa. You would think they would be top on the list to get replaced overseas.

Considering Jacksonville is an ANG base that currently operates the F-15C. Does that mean that the F-15EX will replace some of the F-16C's operate by the Guard???

Westfield Barnes Air National Guard unit eyed as possible F-35 Joint Strike Fighter base




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By Cynthia G. Simison | csimison@repub.com

The Air National Guard’s 104th Fighter Wing at Barnes Regional Airport is again in the running for upgrade to a squadron of F-35A Joint Strike Fighter aircraft.

The Guard base, now home to a fleet of F-15 Eagles that serve as the primary air defense unit for the Northeast, will undergo an “on-the-ground site survey” by the Air Force to determine if the 104th meets the operational requirements needed for the new aircraft. The survey will also assess potential impacts, infrastructure and manpower needs, the Air Force announced................

https://www.masslive.com/news/2020/08/w ... _xHskcahaM

F-15EX Headed to Oregon, Florida as USAF Decides on Fighter Bases
17 Aug 2020 John A. Tirpak

"Kingsley Field, Ore., will be the schoolhouse for the new F-15EX, the Air Force’s updated version of the Eagle fighter, the service announced Aug. 14. The Air Force also floated other potential Air National Guard operating locations that could adopt the F-15EX and F-35A Joint Strike Fighter....

...Other ANG bases now operating F-15C/Ds—Barnes Airport, Mass.; Fresno Yosemite Airport, Calif.; and Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans, La.,—will phase out the older jets for either F-15EXs or F-35As, the Air Force added. The service did not indicate when it will make those decisions. Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif., could also receive the F-35A.... [WAIT! WUT!?]

...Active-duty bases already hosting or planned to host the F-35A include Hill Air Force Base, Utah; RAF Lakenheath, U.K.; Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, and Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. Already-announced Guard locations for the F-35 include Burlington Air National Guard Base, Vt.; Dannelly Field, Ala., and Truax Field, Wis. One Air Force Reserve base, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas, will host the F-35A as well...."

Source: https://www.airforcemag.com/f-15ex-head ... ter-bases/

Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif., could also receive the F-35A.... [WAIT! WUT!?]

Likely not what you're thinking. There's only 30 miles between Lemoore and Fresno. I imagine the consideration is being 'floated' to moving the Fresno ANG from FAT to Lemoore.....not 'floating' naval F-35As.

For any pilots, or any unit members for that matter, who commute into Fresno Air Terminal for Guard duty this would be an inconvenience, but I 'spect the Guard would run shuttle transportation, or alternatively, let the cabbies get rich.

(Wonder if they'd move if they got EXs instead of F-35s? Guard fighter business sounds like a great place to be these days.)

The old Guard hierarchy of who got the good stuff first has certainly changed. If there's no manned follow on to the F-35, I wonder if Tucson will end their fighter days in F-16s and get (gasp) drones or KC-46s with the Test Center being relocated? (D-M or Fort Huachuca come to mind, TUS IAP being very heavy in civvie traffic these days, pre-covid of course)

(Except for TUS, every Guard/Reserve fighter unit I had been in eventually ended up in tankers, possibly because they had really long runways and a requirement to fit in with a large volume of heavy traffic.)

Actually, nothing surprising about the F-15EX going to Portland or the F-35A going to Jacksonville. As the former is the current F-15C training base for the ANG. So, it was the only real option for the former. While, Florida has been pushing very very hard to replace it's F-15C's with F-35A's NOT F-15EX's!

Actually, nothing surprising about the F-15EX going to Portland

Kingsley Field getting the EX is Klamath Falls just south of Crater Lake, not Portland.....

but it appears Portland is getting them too, my oversight.

Actually, nothing surprising about the F-15EX going to Portland

Kingsley Field getting the EX is Klamath Falls just south of Crater Lake, not Portland.

Sorry, meant to say "Oregon" as both squadrons (114th & 123rd) are part of the Oregon ANG.


Honestly, a little poetic justice with Portland, OR getting the F-15EX. While, Jacksonville, FL get's the F-35A.

No, my apologies, I didn't read far enough to see that both Oregon units are getting them.

Getting WSOs for Guard/Reserve single seat units converting to two seaters has always been challenging. I wonder if any of their old (literally) F-4 WSOs would be willing to come back?

No, my apologies, I didn't read far enough to see that both Oregon units are getting them.

Getting WSOs for Guard/Reserve single seat units converting to two seaters has always been challenging. I wonder if any of their old (literally) F-4 WSOs would be willing to come back?

Are they even getting WSO's??? I heard that they would operate the F-15EX's mainly with just the pilot most of the time. If, true maybe they have no intent of training a second crew member at all???

IIRC the intention is to have only a pilot in the new aircraft - twin seats because that is what they are but. Maybe I RONG.

Single pilot like the Marine Super Bugs. "Last person to sit back there was a queasy Portland news anchor. Nobody's armed that rear ejection seat for years."

(A sidebar: the highest number of accumulated fighter hours I ever heard of was a JAX ANG guy with 9000+ hours in the F-86D, T-33, F-102 and F-106, all with the FANG. Even in a 30 year career that's 300 hours a year. Whew! "I'll be out at the Guard, dear." )

YurKiddin' RITE? As I recall the second seat was vacant for future use when biggaBettaFings for de F-15EXcalibur.