From Talk Business & Politics:
Work to complete new facilities at the foreign pilot training center at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith is set to receive $141 million following Congressional approval of the fiscal year 2025 continuing budget resolution.
The funding was secured through the efforts of U.S. Sens. John Boozman and Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, R-Rogers, according to a Monday (May 12) afternoon press release from Boozman’s office.
Ebbing was selected in March 2023 by the U.S. Air Force to be the long-term pilot training center supporting F-16 and F-35 fighter planes purchased by Singapore, Switzerland, Poland, Germany, Finland, and other countries participating in the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. The 85th Fighter Group and the 57th Fighter Squadron, both under the Eglin, Fla.-based 33rd Fighter Wing, are based at Ebbing and are responsible for training F-35 pilots. Ebbing is co-located with the Fort Smith Regional Airport.
“This funding represents another critical step forward for Ebbing and the foreign pilot training center in the River Valley,” noted a joint statement from Boozman and Cotton. “The FMS mission is not only tremendously beneficial for Fort Smith, the region and our state –– it is also a vital component of our national security strategy. The Arkansas congressional delegation will continue ensuring it has the resources necessary to successfully host our allies and partners to help defend our nation and interests.”
The funding, according to the press release, will help with construction of an academic training center, F-35 bay aircraft maintenance hangar, F-35 squad operations mission planning facility, and the design of future work at the pilot training center.
“The F-35 FMS mission enhances our national security by improving the capabilities of our allies and partners while also delivering meaningful benefits to the surrounding Fort Smith community. I look forward to seeing this mission continue to grow,” Womack said in a statement.
Boozman is chairman of the Senate Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MilCon-VA) Appropriations Subcommittee. Cotton is the Senate Republican conference chairman and a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Womack sits on the House Appropriations Committee.
The estimated total cost to complete the training center is $1.2 billion, and around $600 million has been appropriated since 2021 for the center, according to Robert Ator, Secretary of Veterans Affairs in Arkansas. According to Boozman’s office, the $141 million is the total amount in the fiscal year 2025 budget for the center. The next opportunity for more funding is in the fiscal year 2026 budget cycle.