State approves funding to kickstart 122nd Fighter Wing modernization

The State Budget Committee on Thursday approved $1 million to help the Indiana Air National Guard’s 122nd Fighter Wing in Fort Wayne land a future F35-A base.

Indiana Brigadier Gen. Matt Brown told the panel of lawmakers the 122nd is “locked in a fierce multi-state competition to secure the next-generation F-35 fighter jet, a designation that would solidify Fort Wayne’s fighter role in defense economic impact for decades.”

In June, Indiana’s entire congressional delegation sent a letter to the U.S. Air Force urging it to consider the Fort Wayne base for two new F-35A units. The letter highlighted the adaptability of the 122nd Wing and guaranteed the same seamless transition to F-35’s as its recent conversion from using the A-10 to F-16 in the last year.

But Brown said other states are investing heavily to improve their chances. For instance, the Michigan Legislature recently approved $152 million to upgrade the Selfridge Air National Guard Base.

“While Fort Wayne is one of nine F-16 wings competing and will score exceptionally high in performance and readiness, our outdated infrastructure will hold us back in the final scoring,” Brown said.

He described two projects Thursday that will jumpstart base modernization.

The first costs $517,000 and covers the final design work on a revamped squadron operations building. It will include a mission planning cell, a secure vault area and maximizing the weapon system’s full capability. Federal funds covered the initial 35% concept phase, but the money is needed to position the base to secure an $8.8 million dollar federal construction investment.

The second project costs $500,000 for a comprehensive area development plan to map out future F-35 infrastructure requirements. One part of the roadmap will include mitigating a high-risk security and logistics challenge caused by a bisecting Norfolk Southern railroad.

“Established in 1947, the Fort Wayne base must look beyond its current F-16 operations and plan now for the next generation of aircraft,” Brown said. “Because he National Guard Bureau doesn’t provide federal planning funds until after the final basing decisions are made, Indiana must invest now to remain competitive for the headquarters U.S. Air Force basing decision, which is occurring in the next 18 months.”

The investments, he said, will help position the 122nd to secure an F-35 aircraft delivery by 2034, ensuring the long-term credibility of the Indiana Air National Guard.