Reaction to F-35 fighter jets arriving in Montgomery
Action 8 News was on the scene with Exclusive video as the first F-35 fighter jets arrived in Montgomery. Now we are getting reaction to having these state-of-the-art combat aircraft here.
The first three F-35s arrived at the Alabama Air National Guard’s 187th Fighter Wing at Dannelly Field Wednesday to replace the old F-16s that departed in April.
Officials say the new multi-role fighter jet is a major technological upgrade, capable of penetrating an enemy’s air defenses without detection.
They say the F-35s will bring at least 1,400 jobs to the River Region and have an $1.8 billion economic impact.
“Working together they’ve provided a unified to the Air Force and the Air Force found it compelling they agreed with them. The F-35s need to be here. And the community is better off for it.,” Scott Rizer of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce told Action 8 News Thursday.
“We go from like 1980s technology to modern technology. Puts us more at the forefront of the fight than we have been at the past,” Col. Casey Hall, the Operations Group Commander of the 187th Fighter Wing said.
“We’re going to put red on these tails. When y’all come back in February, you’re going to see there’s going to be red on one of these tails. And that red tail, that is about us upholding the Tuskegee Airmen legacy,” Col. Chris Germann, the Maintenance Group Commander said.
A welcoming ceremony will be held in February. The Red Tails will be a tribute to the World War II-era Tuskegee Airmen.
A total of about 20 F-35s are expected to be at Dannelly Field within a year.
Officials say the F-35 being awarded to the 187th Fighter Wing is a testament to the cooperation of the entire Montgomery River Region community.
