SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - The Air Force Wednesday released its list of the next candidate bases for stationing F-35A jets and Joss Foss Field did not make the cut.
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Jennifer Miller, says the Air Force is committed to a deliberate and open process to address F-35 basing."
Candidate bases released yesterday are in Montgomery, Alabama; Boise, Idaho; Jacksonville, Florida; Detroit, Michigan and Madison, Wisconsin.
The Air Force will hold on-the-ground site surveys at each base. Miller says teams will assess each base against operational requirements, potential impacts to current missions, infrastructure and manpower and development cost estimates to "bed down the F-35A."
Two locations are expected to be named next spring. That will be followed by an Environmental Impact Analysis and then the final basing decision will be made.
The Air Force previously named three active duty bases and an Air National Guard base for consideration for the next F-35A base.
Miller says as the Air Force makes "progress through through the basing process, we will share information so interested communities are aware of what to expect."