Navy Announces Decision to Base the F-35C at NAS Lemoore

From U.S. Fleet Forces Public Affairs

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) — The Department of the Navy, after carefully weighing the strategic, operational, and environmental consequences of the proposed action, has decided to base the F-35C aircraft at Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore, California.

This will be accomplished by implementing Alternative 2 of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for U.S. Navy F-35C West Coast Homebasing.

Under Alternative 2, a total of 100 F-35C aircraft in seven Navy Pacific Fleet squadrons (10 aircraft per squadron) and the Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) (30 aircraft) will be based at NAS Lemoore beginning in 2016. The proposed action will be completed in the 2028 timeframe. The Navy has determined Alternative 2 best meets the operational needs of the Navy and, where feasible, minimizes potential environmental impacts.

The 100 F-35C aircraft will replace 70 aging FA-18 Hornet aircraft. As a result, aircraft based at NAS Lemoore will gradually increase by a total of 30 aircraft by 2028. Although this action calls for an increase of 30 aircraft based at NAS Lemoore, the FA-18C FRS with 30 aircraft assigned was disestablished in 2013. When the FRS for the F-35C is operational (in about 2018), the number of aircraft based at NAS Lemoore will be similar to 2013 levels. There will be no changes in aircraft based at Naval Air Facility (NAF) El Centro, California, under Alternative 2. Basing the F-35C at NAS Lemoore will result in an increase of about 68,400 operations per year at NAS Lemoore and an increase of about 800 operations per year at NAF El Centro.

Lemoore Navy station to be home base for new F35-C jet fighters

The Fresno Bee

Jim Guy

October 2, 2014

Lemoore Naval Air Station will be the home base for the new F-35C fighter jets, the Navy announced Thursday.

The F35-C will replace the Navy’s FA-18 Hornet aircraft. Beginning in 2016, a total of 100 F-35-Cs will be based at the Kings County facility, according to Rep. David G. Valadao, who released the information on his website.

“The basing of the F-35C fleet is estimated to require 751 new military and contractor personnel for mission support,” Valadao said. “With an estimated $35.5 million in annual payroll, this will inject much-needed economic stimulus into our suffering region.”

Lemoore will host seven Pacific Fleet squadrons and one Fleet Replacement squadron, according to the Valadao website.

In May, the Navy said it would issue a “record of decision” on where to base the fighter jets and address comments received on a final environmental impact statement, which identified the Lemoore base as the preferred location. The Navy base in El Centro also was in the running for the F-35C fleet.

F-35C AIRCRAFT TO BE BASED AT NAS LEMOORE, NAVY SAYS

KFSN-TV Fresno

October 2, 2014

The United States Navy says 100 F-35C aircraft will be home based at Naval Air Station Lemoore to replace the aging FA-18 Hornet aircraft.

According to the Navy’s Record of Decision, “After carefully weighing the strategic, operational, and environmental consequences of the proposed action,” the Department of the Navy “announces its decision to provide facilities and functions to support homebasing of F-35C aircraft at Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore.”

The new aircraft will begin moving to the Lemoore base in 2016.

Congressman David G. Valadao stated, “The basing of the F-35C fleet is estimated to require 751 new military and contractor personnel for mission support. With an estimated $36.5 million in annual payroll, this will inject much needed economic stimulus into our suffering region.”

Valadao also said in a statement that, “the homebasing of the F-35 aircraft will make NAS Lemoore a significant source of the Navy’s strike power in the Pacific and enable our region to play a significant role in our nation’s defense for years to come.”