Ceremony marks operational opening of foreign pilot training center in Fort Smith

by Michael Tilley (mtilley@talkbusiness.net)

With sounds of construction and activity in the background, the U.S. Air Force (USAF) on Friday (Sept. 20) held a “proof of concept” ceremony at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith that essentially opens the foreign pilot training center for business.

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. The preliminary decision to locate the training center in Fort Smith was made in June 2021.

The original plan for the base to support 36 planes has been amended to accommodate 46 fighter jets. Recent estimates indicate the cost of the base when fully operational could be up to $1 billion and produce a $450 million annual economic impact for the region and state. Estimates are that 1,500 military personnel and family members will be associated with the new center once it is fully operational.

Ceremony marks operational opening of foreign pilot training center in Fort Smith

Lt. Gen. Brian Robinson, commander of the USAF Air Education and Training Command (AETC), talks to the media Friday (Sept. 20) at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith.

Womack secures funding for Fort Smith’s Ebbing Air National Guard Base

Washington, DC—May 23, 2024…Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) voted in support of the Fiscal Year 2025 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies bill that passed out of the House Appropriations Committee today. This bill exceeds the Department of Defense’s military construction budget request, fully funds veterans’ care, and secures key defense priorities, including additional funding for Ebbing Air National Guard Base projects and robust investments in the Pacific region.

Congressman Womack said, “Taking care of the patriotic Americans who have served and currently serve our country while bolstering our defense capabilities remains the focus for the FY25 bill. It secures $70 million for Ebbing Air National Guard Base Academic Training Center construction along with additional funding for planning and design of future Ebbing projects to further support the critical Foreign Military Sales mission in Fort Smith. I’m proud to see this legislation take an important step forward in becoming law today.”

A summary of the bill is available here.
Bill text is available here.

Number of foreign military jets at Fort Smith could rise; basing cost up to $850 million

by Michael Tilley (mtilley@talkbusiness.net)

The foreign military pilot training center in Fort Smith has yet to become operational or even see its first jet find a home in a hangar, but the number of planes could potentially rise, and the cost to establish the center is also up from initial estimates.

Rob Ator, a retired Air Force colonel and the Arkansas Economic Development Commission director of Military Affairs, said Monday (April 29) that efforts are underway to prepare Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith to handle 48 fighter jets instead of the original 36.

Ebbing, home to the 188th Wing in Fort Smith and co-located with the Fort Smith Regional Airport, was selected in March 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. Specifically, Singapore is expected to base 12 F-16s at Ebbing, with slots for 24 F-35s from the participating countries.

Number of foreign military jets at Fort Smith could rise; basing cost up to $850 million

Col. Jay “Evil” Spohn, commander of the 188th Wing based at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith, on Monday (April 29) addresses attendees of a Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce event.

Federal budget bill includes $207.9 million for foreign pilot training center in Fort Smith (Updated)

by Michael Tilley (mtilley@talkbusiness.net)

The U.S. House approved Friday (March 22) a federal budget bill that could not only avoid a partial government shutdown but would direct $207.947 million to the ongoing process of establishing a foreign military pilot training center at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith.

The Senate early Saturday morning also voted to approve the spending package. U.S. Sens. John Boozman and Tom Cotton, R-Ark., voted for the bill.

The funding approved Friday and Saturday is in addition to the $83 million included in the MilCon-VA bill approved early in March and pushed through the legislative process primarily by U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., and U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark.

Federal budget bill includes $207.9 million for foreign pilot training center in Fort Smith

U.S. Marshals Museum opening, pilot training center top Fort Smith metro stories in 2023

by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)

The long-awaited opening of the U.S. Marshals Museum and the final decision to place a foreign pilot training center in Fort Smith were two of the top news stories in the Fort Smith metro during 2023.

Following are the top five stories, followed by a list of other notable news.

1. U.S. Marshals Museum finally opens
After more than 16 years of fundraising struggles and leadership changes, the U.S. Marshals Museum opened in downtown Fort Smith on June 29. Just under 10,000 people would visit the museum in its first month.

In January 2007, the U.S. Marshals Service selected Fort Smith as the site for the national museum. The Robbie Westphal family, led by Bennie Westphal and Robin Westphal Clegg, donated the riverfront land for the museum. A ceremonial groundbreaking was held in September 2015. Museum officials initially hoped to have the facility open by late 2017, but struggles to raise money delayed the opening. Construction of the approximately 53,000-square-foot U.S. Marshals Museum was completed — except for exhibits — in early 2020.

U.S. Marshals Museum opening, pilot training center top Fort Smith metro stories in 2023

$75.5 million in legislation for foreign pilot training center in Fort Smith

by Michael Tilley (mtilley@talkbusiness.net)

The expensive effort to create a foreign military pilot training center in Fort Smith may have $75.5 million – if not more – in the next federal fiscal year to begin preparing for a full complement of fighter planes estimated to arrive in late 2025 or early 2026.

U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, R-Rogers, announced Tuesday (June 13) that legislation approved Tuesday by the U.S. House Appropriations Committee includes $75.5 million “for three Ebbing Air National Guard Base projects” associated with the planned pilot training center. The funding will be available through Sept. 30, 2024, according to the legislation.

It has been estimated that the full cost to create an operational foreign pilot training center will range between $700 million and $800 million.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/06/75-5-million-in-legislation-for-foreign-pilot-training-center-in-fort-smith/

‘Deep work’ ongoing to establish foreign pilot training center in Fort Smith

by Michael Tilley (mtilley@talkbusiness.net)

With Fort Smith chosen for a foreign pilot training center, members of Arkansas’ Congressional delegation are pushing to secure funding, commitments, and relationships from and with the U.S. Air Force and officials in Singapore.

The Ebbing Air National Guard base, which is home to the 188th Wing in Fort Smith, was selected on June 8, 2021, to be the long-term pilot training center supporting F-16 and F-35 fighter planes purchased by Singapore, Switzerland and other countries participating in the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. The final decision was signed on March 10, clearing the way for Ebbing to be the next home for the 425th Fighter Squadron, a Republic of Singapore F-16 Fighting Falcon training unit now based at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the federal agency managing the FMS, notes that the program provides “responsible arms sales to further national security and foreign policy objectives by strengthening bilateral defense relations, supporting coalition building, and enhancing interoperability between U.S. forces and militaries of friends and allies.”

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/04/deep-work-ongoing-to-establish-foreign-pilot-training-center-in-fort-smith/