FAIRBANKS, Alaska — A request for $37 million for construction of an F-35 flight simulator facility at Eielson Air Force Base is included in President Obama’s proposed budget.
The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports the budget item would be to prepare for arrival of 48 F-35A fighter jets to Eielson in 2020.
Congress has final say on the budget. But the proposal is seen by U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s optimistic.
The Alaska Republican’s spokesman, Matthew Felling, says a budget represents bottom-line discussions and “it’s clear the military’s long-term budget has Eielson on track for the F-35s.”
The F-35 is meant to replace some military aircraft, including the Air Force’s F-16 Fighter Falcons now stationed at Eielson.
In August, Eielson was named as the preferred site to host the first Pacific squadron of F-35s.
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