By Amr Gohar
WASHINGTON, DC, – Members of South Carolina’s congressional delegation are urging the U.S. Air Force to select McEntire Joint National Guard Base as a future home for F-35A fighter jets, arguing that the base’s infrastructure, personnel and recent combat experience make it prepared for the advanced aircraft.
In a letter to Air Force Secretary Troy Meink, the delegation backed the South Carolina Air National Guard’s 169th Fighter Wing, known as the “Swamp Foxes,” in the upcoming Ops 16 & 17 basing decision.
The lawmakers said McEntire has spent more than a decade preparing for a potential F-35 mission and pointed to its stand-alone military airfield, existing support infrastructure and access to extensive training ranges and airspace.
The delegation also highlighted the 169th Fighter Wing’s role in Operation Epic Fury against Iran, saying its F-16s were the first U.S. fighter aircraft to enter Iranian airspace on the opening day of combat operations and that the unit generated the highest combat hours per aircraft among deployed F-16s.
The lawmakers argued that converting the wing from its legacy F-16s to F-35As would preserve its experienced personnel while giving the Air Force a location they say is already positioned to accept the fifth-generation fighter.
“The infrastructure and personnel at the 169th FW are F-35 ready today,” the delegation wrote, urging the Air Force to select McEntire in the upcoming basing decision.
The delegation said McEntire represents a combination of ready infrastructure, demonstrated combat performance and strong state support as the Air Force considers where to base additional F-35A aircraft.
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