by Michael Tilley (mtilley@talkbusiness.net)
Despite global rumblings about NATO allies and other foreign nations being concerned about using the F-35 fighter, retired Air Force Col. Rob Ator said Tuesday (March 18) the F-35 pilot training center in Fort Smith will have a long and important mission that has the attention of the White House.
Ator, who is now the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in Arkansas, was the military affairs liaison for the Arkansas Economic Development Commission when Ebbing Air National Guard Base at the Fort Smith Regional Airport was selected for the new training center.
Ebbing, home to the 188th Wing in Fort Smith and co-located with the Fort Smith Regional Airport, was selected in March 2023 by the U.S. Air Force to be the long-term pilot training center supporting F-16 and F-35 fighter planes purchased by Singapore, Switzerland, Poland, Germany, Finland, and other countries participating in the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program.
F-35 pilot training center cost rises to $1.2 billion, impact up to $1.4 billion
Col. Nicholas “Matrix” Ihde, commander of the 85th Fighter Group, talks to the Fort Smith Regional Airport Commission Tuesday (March 18) about progress on the foreign pilot training center at the Ebbing Air National Guard Base.