Montgomery Makes the List for Possible F-35 Fighter Jet Sites

The Montgomery-based 187th Fighter Wing is one of five Air National Guard units across the country that is still being considered to become home to the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter, U.S. Air Force officials have announced.

The F-35A is scheduled to someday replace older fighters like the F-16 currently flown by the 187th.

According to a statement from U.S. Rep Martha Roby (R-AL), the Air Force will select two National Guard units to which the F-35A will be assigned. The selection is expected in the spring.

Roby says the 187th and Dannelly Field are an “ideal fit” for the F-35A.

“This is exciting news for Montgomery and the state of Alabama,” she said.

“The 187th Fighter Wing has long been a point of pride for our state, from its impressive combat track record in recent conflicts to its proud history as the legacy unit of the legendary Tuskegee Airmen. I look forward to working alongside my Alabama delegation colleagues and community partners to make the case to the Air Force for why the 187th and Dannelly Field remain an ideal fit for this program,” said Roby.

Site survey teams will now visit Montgomery and the other four locations, which are in Boise, Idaho, Jacksonville, Florida, Detroit, Michigan and Madison, Wisconsin.

Once the two bases are selected to house the F-35As, the jets should arrive in the early to mid-2020s.