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Selfridge mission unites old foes Whitmer, Trump
Selfridge mission unites old foes Whitmer, Trump

Axios

time05-05-2025

  • Business
  • Axios

Selfridge mission unites old foes Whitmer, Trump

The new fighter jet mission at Selfridge Air National Guard Base is a big win for Michigan's economy, highlighting Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's evolving relationship with President Trump. Why it matters: Prior to Trump's announcement last week that Selfridge will receive new fighter aircraft, the base's future — and the 30,000 jobs it supports — was uncertain because its aging A-10 Thunderbolt II squadron will be retired beginning in 2026. State of play: Selfridge will receive about 20 F-15EXs — a next-generation fighter aircraft — to replace the A-10s beginning in fiscal year 2028. Meanwhile, the A-10's retirement will happen gradually over the next several years, resulting in the loss of about 300 part-time and 25 full-time jobs. Whitmer said she is hopeful the new mission will minimize job losses, the Detroit News reported. What they're saying: Trump made the announcement last Tuesday during a visit to the base on Lake St. Clair in Harrison Township, about 30 miles northeast of Detroit. "I've come in person to lay to rest any doubts about Selfridge's future and the vital role it will play in our national defense," Trump said. Context: Selfridge's location is ideal for the new aircraft to fly over the Arctic toward Asia and other locations, U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, told the Macomb Daily. Between the lines: Despite their previous disagreements, Whitmer has taken a more cooperative approach during Trump's second term. Her strategy — in contrast to more combative Democratic governors — made news last month when Whitmer hid her face with file folders while being photographed in the Oval Office. Whitmer later explained that she simply didn't want her picture taken: "That's all it was. I kinda wish I hadn't put my folder up in front of my face. But whatever." The latest: The Selfridge expansion outweighs any distress Whitmer endured in working with Trump to make it happen, the New York Times reports. "The fact that we got it done — all the grief is worth it," she told the Times. "The people of Michigan elected me twice because they know whether it's threats or pundits ridiculing me for going to the White House, I'm always going to stand up for the people of Michigan."

F-15EX To Replace Michigan Air National Guard A-10s
F-15EX To Replace Michigan Air National Guard A-10s

Yahoo

time30-04-2025

  • Business
  • Yahoo

F-15EX To Replace Michigan Air National Guard A-10s

President Donald Trump made a surprise announcement today at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Michigan, which was losing its A-10 Warthogs to retirement, and possibly its tactical flying mission overall. Instead, the storied base and the 107th Fighter Squadron have been chosen to receive a squadron of Boeing F-15EX Eagle IIs. The news comes just a day after billions of dollars were earmarked for accelerating F-15EX acquisitions in a massive defense spending boost proposed by the heads of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees. Still, there are big questions of where these jets are coming from, as well as what exactly this means for the F-15EX basing structure and its future numbers in the Air Force overall. Trump visited Selfridge Air National Guard Base today to deliver the very welcome news that the installation will not lose its fighter mission. Instead, it would grow with a new and far more advanced aircraft than the base's Warthogs. A squadron of KC-46 Pegasus tankers is already slated to call the base home towards the end of the decade, replacing the KC-135Rs stationed there now. @POTUS: "As commander-in-chief, I am proud to announce that very soon we will replace the retiring A-10 Warthogs with 21 brand new F-15EX Eagle II fighter jets" at Selfridge Air National Guard base in Michigan. — Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 29, 2025 This is a major economic win for Michigan, and politicians and community leaders on both sides of the political aisle are lauding Trump's reprieve for the base's fighter mission. Trump said today that Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who is a member of the Democratic Party, made her controversial visit to the White House earlier this month 'to save Selfridge.' Trump praising Michigan Gov. GRETCHEN WHITMER at Selfridge Air National Guard Base: 'She came to see me. That's the reason she came to see me, by the way, to save Selfridge. She was very effective,' he said. — Julia Manchester (@JuliaManch) April 29, 2025 BREAKING: After years of hard work, we've secured a new fighter squadron to protect operations at Selfridge Air National Guard Base for decades to come. That means jobs, a stronger economy, and a bright, lasting, and secure future for Selfridge and the entire state of Michigan. — Governor Gretchen Whitmer (@GovWhitmer) April 29, 2025 My statement on the announcement that 21 F-15EXs are coming to Selfridge Air National Guard Base: — Senator Gary Peters (@SenGaryPeters) April 29, 2025 Thank you @POTUS for recognizing the roll Selfridge plays in supporting our warfighters and contributing to our nation's is something the Michigan Delegation and I have long fought for, and President Trump made it a reality. I look forward to integrating the F-15EX… — Rep. Bill Huizenga (@RepHuizenga) April 29, 2025 What remains unclear is where the new F-15EXs will come from. As it sits now, roughly all the F-15EXs allotted under the 98 airframe procurement program of record have a future home. Each squadron would be made up of 18 jets, a reduction from the roughly 21 F-15C/Ds found today at units that still fly the older aircraft. Oregon, California, and Louisiana would all get one squadron, replacing their F-15C/Ds. Kadena Air Base on the Japanese island of Okinawa has at least been loosely understood to be in line to get two squadrons. This would leave eight aircraft for testing, training, and reserve. Now with the added 21 jets for Selfridge, either those assignments are changing or more F-15EXs are being bought. The latter is very possible, as indicated by the $3.1B set aside 'to increase production' of the F-15EX in the recently proposed $150B defense spending package. However, it still isn't clear if those funds would be used to accelerate and fund current procurement plans or to expand them, although buying more jets seemed more likely. You can read all about this in our write up on it here. So, with yesterday's budgetary news and today's basing announcement, more F-15EXs appear to be planned for. This would make a lot of sense based on the issues surrounding such a small force, the unique capabilities and efficiencies the F-15EX brings to the table, the popularity of the jet among key commanders, its testing performance, and especially the growing threats abroad. You can read more about the case for a larger F-15EX fleet in this past feature of ours. Alternatively, it's possible that Kadena is now going to get just one squadron of F-15EXs instead of two, with those 18 jets going to Selfridge, plus three from the remaining eight testing, training, and spare aircraft pool. The 21-aircraft squadron structure for Selfridge — adopting the same inventory number as the F-15C/D force — is also curious. This could indicate that all F-15EX squadrons will gain three more jets under a larger overall buy. This would allow for 18 primary aircraft and three retained by each unit as backup inventory aircraft. If Selfridge's F-15EXs are truly in addition to the 98 jets the Air Force currently plans to order, we also don't know if other squadrons will follow. Doing so would grow the overall program of record significantly. Originally, the minimum procurement target was 144 Eagle IIs. Finally, it's worth mentioning that the F-15EX is primarily seen as an air defense asset, at least for now. F-15C/Ds tasked with that mission for homeland defense have been arrayed along the country's coastlines, protecting from threats emanating from the maritime domain. Not since the short-lived Montana F-15C/D unit (120th Fighter Wing) was shuttered nearly a decade and a half ago have operational air superiority Eagles been stationed elsewhere in the country. So, regaining an Eagle squadron that is positioned for northern air defense is an interesting development. We have reached out to the USAF for clarification on the questions laid out here, and it's worth noting that if these are extra jets, the spending bill that could help fund them still has to be passed and signed into law in order to definitively say this is a done deal. Contact the author: Tyler@

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