The University of Michigan’s football team has won a national championship.
The Detroit Lions are in the playoffs.
And Selfridge Air National Guard base has been picked to get a squadron of KC-46 tankers.
What a year it has been for Michigan and it’s only January.
“This is very good news,” said Sen. Gary Peters, shortly after being told by U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall that the Michigan Congressional Delegation’s (CODEL) request to select SANG to host a new squadron of KC-46A refueling tankers has been granted.
“The Air Force will be announcing it today,” added Peters, who was one of several lawmakers in Michigan who campaigned heartedly to get the next generation of tankers for SANG.
The 127th Wing at Selfridge currently operates the KC-135 Stratotanker in support of the global mobility mission, offering unparalleled synergy of training, efficiency, and mobility opportunities and operations. The mission of refueling America’s fighter jets has been a mission at SANG for more than 100 years but the KC-135 Stratotankers like the C-97 Hercules tanker before it is being replaced by a new generation of tankers. Placement of the KC-46 air refueling tankers, which will be crucial to the future of the U.S. defense strategy and operations will not only provide the 127th’s Refueling Group with new aircraft but help cement Selfridge’s position as a critical component to America’s national security. “It’s a much more capable and advanced aircraft than the KC-135,” said Peters. “This is an airplane that’s going to be around for decades.”
Thursday’s official announcement follows on the heels of the CODEL letter signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Peters and just about every other lawmaker in the state, urging Kendall to pick SANG as one of the bases getting the new tanker. As they pointed out, SANG has an exceptional operational record, and stellar history in aviation and the governor already proposed a $100 million investment in base and runway improvements.
Earlier this year, this same group participated in the groundbreaking for a new $28 million aircraft hangar made possible by federal funding that Peters secured through his work on the Senate Armed Services Committee.
“I am very pleased of the news that we were able to secure twelve new KC-46As to be commissioned at Selfridge Air National Guard Base,” said Rep. John James, who was part of the CONDEL. “Since my first day as your congressman, my focus has been on fighting for Selfridge to secure new programs and missions there. Last year, I secured funding for an F-15EX fighter mission to Selfridge in the U.S. House of Representatives, and while we fell slightly short in the Senate this time around, I remain committed to advocating for further development for Selfridge. The KC-46As are a great start!”
Senator Debbie Stabenow concurred.
“We have more to do for Selfridge but this is great news,” said Stabenow, who was on the call with Peters and Kendall, and part of the bipartisan campaign to secure Selfridge’s future.
Stabenow said the news is also good for the military and civilian men and women who make up the 5,000 member team at SANG, whose economic impact statewide is estimated to be $850 million.
“If it wasn’t for the wonderful support of the talented people at Selfridge and the support of its surrounding communities this wouldn’t have happened,” Stabenow said.
Among those celebrating on the base is the 127th Air Refueling Group, which consists of 40 KC-135 pilots and 25 boom operators, who have been flying KC-135 Stratotankers since 2007 when it converted to the tanker from the C-130 Hercules.
Worldwide deployments by the flying fortress have included support operations in the Indo-Pacific and Middle East. Its squadron consists of some of the military’s most experienced pilots including five Air Force Weapons School graduates, who would go through conversion training in order to fly the next generation of refueling tankers.
The tankers are expected to be flying out of Selfridge by 2028, increasing the fleet on the tarmac and in the air from 8 to 12.
However, it wasn’t just the tankers that were discussed during the conversation with Kendall, Peters said he also pressed the Secretary on the matter of whether or not this decision would have any impact on other aircraft coming to SANG and he said no. “This in no way affects SANG’s chances of getting a new long term fighter jet mission.”
SANG’s 107th Fighter Squadron, who work closely with the 171st Air Refueling Squadron are currently flying A-10, but like the KC-135 will soon be replaced with the next generation of fighter jets, which SANG had hoped to be the F-35.
Stabenow said at the moment there are no new planes being built once funding is secured SANG is hoping to land a squadron of F-15-EX, which will replace the A-10s.
“This decision is very good news for Selfridge Air National Guard Base now and for the future,” said Candice Miller, public works commissioner for Macomb County, former congresswoman and honorary commander of Selfridge. “Selfridge is perfectly positioned to carry out this very important critical mission for the Air National Guard. It’s critical because the 12 new KC-46A refuelers to be placed here are vital for keeping fighter aircraft flying and in the sky all over the world.”
Miller noted the refueler squadron will benefit greatly from the $40 million aviation fuel farm that was installed recently at Selfridge. The refueling station allows the refuelers to pull up to be refueled instead of having fuel tanker trucks traversing the base near runways.
“It is more efficient, cost effective, better for the environment and much safer for our flight line personnel,” Miller said.
“It’s time to turn our attention to support U.S. Sen. Gary Peters in his effort to make Selfridge a northern border homeland security hub,” said Miller, who chaired the Homeland Security Committee when she served in the U.S. House. “If Michigan’s delegation is successful in that, it will bring more personnel – and possibly more air assets, water assets and certainly more research and development and intelligence capabilities – to Selfridge to protect our nation. Let’s remember the Chinese spy balloon that traveled along the northern border including Lake Huron. Northern border security is critical to our national security.”
“The new refuelers and being a northern border security hub would ensure the long-term future of Selfridge,” Miller added.
“There were 10 states fighting to get the KC-46 and they were down to two,” Peters said, adding that the particular state competing with us for the tanker was very angry that we got them.
He would not say what state that was, but did say it’s not Washington, who lost the national college football championship to Michigan.
“It was a Southern state,” Stabenow said, and one that is usually favored. “This time we won.”