FORT SMITH, Ark. — A celebration at Ebbing Air National Guard Base Friday, May 5 was attended by members of our federal delegation, along with the governor who spoke about the great accomplishment of fort smith being chosen as the home of the foreign military sales pilot training program.
“Arkansas has long been the training ground for some of America's very best pilots and air personnel. And today, we are taking that global,” said Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
Governor Sanders, along with members of our federal delegation celebrated the 188th being selected as the home of the foreign military sales mission that will bring F-35 fighter planes and the Republic of Singapore F-16 squadron to the installation in Fort Smith.
“Soon Ebbing Air National Base will be home to 36 state-of-the-art aircraft and 1,200 new base staff. It will host airmen from as far away as Europe and Singapore. As Governor, I’d like to be the very first to extend our welcome to those who will soon call Arkansas home,” Sanders said.
The 188th Wing Air National Guard Base was recently announced as the official location for a foreign military sales pilot training program after nearly two years of work.
This mission will bring hundreds of families and jobs to the area with the possibility of having an economic impact as high as $1 billion dollars every year.
Senator John Boozman says this is a great example of many people working together for a common goal. He appreciates the community working hard and rolling out the red carpet to show foreign dignitaries what they can expect in the river valley.
“Having grown up in Fort Smith, I understand very well what sets this community apart. The people that live here, the contagious passion and that steadfast commitment to the success of this city,” said Senator John Boozman.
Congressman Steve Womack says that in this great power struggle, we are having right now, it’s important for America to lead, and “For our allies and partners to have the best training on the best equipment in the world, so that we can lead this great power competition. And so, the world is going to be a safer place as a result of the training that will take place right here at Ebbing,” said Congressman Steve Womack.
Air Force officials toured four other sites across the country before deciding on Fort Smith. The plans include building simulator training facilities, renovating existing buildings, additions to runways, and more.
“What's truly astonishing about this project is its speed, and seamlessness through which it came into being the fastest environmental impact study in the Air Force history, rapid financial help from the state from the county and the city, zero negative comments in the public comment period,” said Sanders.
The first aircraft is expected to arrive on base in September. And base leaders say they expect flying operations to officially start sometime late next year to September of 2025.
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In early 2020, The U.S. Government approved the sale of up to 12 F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jets to Singapore through a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program.
Since then, legislatures from Arkansas have promoted Fort Smith as a capable place for military training and readiness.
Singapore requested to co-locate its Arizona-based F-16 training detachment with its future F-35 training site. With the Arizona base reaching its hosting capacity in the coming years, the U.S. Air Force identified and toured locations across the country for potential relocation sites.
Fort Smith's Ebbing Air National Guard Base was ultimately chosen to host the program.
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