Congressman Denny Rehberg

WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today announced the U.S. Air Force is considering the Montana Air National Guard (MANG), based out of the Great Falls International Airport, as a possible site for new F-35 or F-22 jet fighters.

“MANG plays a critical role in our nation’s defense,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee.  “Today’s news is a great recognition of the MANG’s hard work.”

This week the Air Force released their Weapons System Roadmap, a long-term plan for providing Air Force capabilities America requires to meet future threats to national security, and outlines next-generation weapon systems and potential installations in the continental US, Hawaii, Alaska and US territories where those systems might be based.  MANG is currently in the process of transitioning to a new fleet of eighteen F-15s.

“It’s very important that MANG is being considered for this new fleet,” said Great Falls attorney Warren Wenz, a member of Air Force Chief of Staff Michael Moseley’s Executive Action Group.  “This is a direction MANG needs to be heading and it’s a job I know they’re capable of handling.”

“This announcement is a commitment from the Air Force to look at the viability of basing the next generation of fighters in Great Falls,” said Rehberg.  “While it’s a good first step, a lot of work remains to be done and I’ll continue to do everything I can to help bring new opportunities to MANG and the Great Falls community.”

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