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SALT LAKE CITY — The Air Force has rolled out new details for realignments in aircraft programs throughout the service, including plans to retire entire series of aircraft, eliminating as many as 500 planes, but the impact on Hill Air Force Base is uncertain.
Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, whose district includes Hill Air Force Base, said Friday his reading of the Air Force's "Force Structure Changes" outline gives him the impression that additional reductions at Hill will be minimal, adding the caveat that "one can never guarantee how this process may change."
Hill is expecting its F-16 squadrons will be re-outfitted with new F-35s in the near future. "In July 2010, the Air Force announced preferred alternatives for further basing of the initial 250-30 F-35As," identifying Hill as one of two "initial operations locations" in its plans projected to fiscal 2019, the Air Force says.
Any changes in F-35 placements would likely affect the next tier of base assignments not required before fiscal 2017.
"I am pleased that the Air Force remains committed to the F-35 as being the backbone of the future Air Force, and it appears that Hill AFB's designation as the location for the first operational squadron of F-35s remains secure," Bishop said.
The latest Air Force updates come as Utah's congressional delegation explores several pieces of proposed legislation that would sidestep the White House's plan to force cuts in the Defense Department. Gov. Gary Herbert said on Thursday he wants the Legislature to give the nonprofit Utah Defense Alliance $500,000 to make sure Utah is well-represented in any base realignment or closure process.
The Utah Air National Guard flies KC-135 aerial refueling tankers — military versions of the Boeing 707 built in the late 1950s. The Utah Air Guard has been expecting it would upgrade its tanker fleet to the new KC-46, a military version of the Boeing 767. Delivery of the new tankers is expected in 2017.
The Air Force announcement this week details 10 air bases where the KC-135 will be retired. Utah is not on that list. The Air Force restructuring plan says a lot about the increasing role the Air Force Reserve and the Air National Guard are playing in the "Total Force," but regarding the KC-46 rollout says only that it expects to identify "candidate installations" in June.
Aircraft planned for retirement also include all 27 C-5As, 38 planned C-27Js, the 65 oldest C-130s.
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