WASHINGTON ― The secretary of the U.S. Air Force on Tuesday said future Pentagon spending will support President Donald Trump's decision last month to send F-15EX fighters to Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Macomb County, and that they would arrive on time in 2028 as Trump announced.
“Senator, yeah. So based on the president's decision, the Air Force is planning to execute the placement of F-15EXs at Selfridge,” Air Force Secretary Troy E. Meink said in response to a question from Sen. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, during testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Meink also told Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, that he would ensure all environmental studies and other preparations required are completed ahead of the fighter aircraft's arrival.
“It breaks a lot of china to have our F-15s show up to replace our A-10s. We thank you for that. We're very happy about that decision,” Slotkin said.
“But can you commit to making sure it happens on time? We have an issue where we could lose a lot of airmen if our A-10 pilots and crews go off ― if they're allowed to go back into normal civilian life ― and then years later we get our F-15s.”
“Yes, senator, we are working out belaying that plan based on the president's decision, and, you know, as we have more detail we'll make sure to provide that,” Meink said.
The public commitments from Meink come one week after his confirmation by the Senate and three weeks after Trump's F-15EX announcement at the Harrison Township base on Lake St. Clair northeast of Detroit.
Michigan's delegation and officials lobbied for more than a decade for a fighter mission to replace the Thunderbolt II squadron at Selfridge that is set to be retired starting next year.
The 21 aircraft are expected to begin arriving at Selfridge in fiscal 2028 and would be in addition to a new squadron of KC-46s that the Air Force announced last year for the base.
Michigan lawmakers are now looking to ensure that funding and construction projects are prioritized for the specialized infrastructure needed at Selfridge for both the new fighter and tanker missions.
Peters noted these include ground support equipment, including modifications to flight lines, as well as larger hangars, as well as the KC-46's unique refueling requirements and the specialized maintenance "demands" for the F-15EX.
“How is the Air Force prioritizing bases like Selfridge with near-term military construction needs to support these flying missions that are imminent?” he said.
Gen. David W. Allvin, chief of staff of the Air Force, said the goal is to ensure that aircraft platforms aren't sent to their assigned bases without supporting infrastructure.
“That timing may adjust the timing of the platforms or the infrastructure, one of the two,” Allvin said. “Our target is to make sure that when the platforms get there, they're able to be used as soon as possible.”
“Well, I like the option where we're going to make sure the platforms don't get pushed back any further, to make sure that the construction is happening first,” Peters replied. “I would hope that would be a priority.”
Peters has said he expects to see a budget request by the Pentagon for additional procurement of F-15EXs when the Trump administration releases its budget proposal later this month. The 21 warplanes would cost at least $2 billion, as each F-15EX costs about $99 million.
U.S. Rep. John James, whose district includes Selfridge, said he's also working on an appropriations request for Congress to support the runway and other infrastructure improvements needed in and around Selfridge to allow for the arrival of the F-15EXs.
“Now it's up to Congress to authorize the additional aircraft and then appropriate the money to do that,” said James, a Shelby Township Republican.
“Since the president has mentioned it, there is a very high likelihood that we will do that, and so I imagine that Selfridge should be first in line. But there's also supportive investments that need to happen.”
The timeline for completing the required inspections and environmental impact analysis should take about two years, James said.
“That is about the same time that the A-10s are going to be rolling out, so we have a very tight timeline,” James said.
“Everybody's working together. We'd like to keep it that way. But the credit for the fighters -- credit where credit's due: Credit has to go to the president.”
The lack of environmental analysis, funding and other roll-out details stems from the unusual situation of Trump making the Selfridge decision himself, well after the Air Force had concluded the basing process for the F-15EX and told Michigan officials that Selfridge wouldn't get any of the jets.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer previously pledged $100 million in state money toward infrastructure upgrades in a bid to secure a new fighter mission for Selfridge.
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