Senators Look At Attracting F-35 Squadron
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TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/NSF) – The Florida Senate is looking at how more jets can be based in the state, even with the president-elect's criticism of the military's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
"The F-35 program and cost is out of control. Billions of dollars can and will be saved on military (and other) purchases after January 20th," Donald Trump tweeted on Monday.
Sen. Audrey Gibson, a Jacksonville Democrat who chairs the Senate Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security Committee, said Tuesday she intends to hold panel discussions on the fighter.
"I definitely want to make sure we have a presentation on the possibility of getting some of the fighters in Jacksonville, in particular, and in the state of Florida in general," Gibson said.
Gov. Rick Scott also has expressed support for bringing more of the aircraft to the state, saying Florida Air National Guard 125th Fighter Wing at Jacksonville International Airport would make "a great home" for the jets.
The Jacksonville base is on the shortlist for the next squadron location, with the list whittled last week from 18 to five.
The Integrated Training Center at Eglin Air Force Base in Okaloosa County is already home to training programs for the three variants of the F-35 Lightning II.
Also, Lockheed Martin, which produces the F-35, contends the fighter accounts for 14,700 jobs in Florida, with an annual economic impact just over $3 billion.
The jet was conceived in 1996 to replace other aircraft. But redesigns sought by the different military branches and other problems have driven up the cost.
The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.