Another F-35 opportunity arises at SANG
Base competing to become international training center
Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Harrison Township is one of five finalists nationwide being considered to host an international contingent as part of the U.S. Air Force’s plan to establish an F-35 fighter jets foreign military sales training center.
Five members from the Republic of Singapore Air Force and six members of headquarters Air Education and Training Command in Texas visited SANG on March 19-20 for a site visit for a potential student pilot training bed-down
site. According to Phillip Ulmer, a spokesman for the 127th Wing Public Affairs, the plan would call the U.S. Air Force to sell F-35s to Singapore and have their student pilots train in Michigan. As an F-35 training center, SANG could house up to 36 F-35s, and Singapore would purchase a percentage of those aircrafts.
If SANG were to be chosen, approximately 150 families would relocate to Michigan from Singapore and live within the community. The number would include the pilots and ancillary support such as maintenance. The base would also house Singaporean F-16s as well as F-35s and F-35s that would be purchased by the countries of Poland, Switzerland and Finland. Pilots and ancillary support from those countries would be trained at the base as well.
As part of their visit, the Singaporean contingent received briefings from the Michigan Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Paul Rogers, the Michigan Air National Guard Commander and Assistant Adjutant General Brig. Gen Bryan Teff, the 127th Wing Commander, Brig. Gen. Rolf Mammen, Macomb County officials, and Selfridge Base Community Council members.
To highlight the Michigan Advantage, the group flew by helicopter to the northern Michigan areas of Grayling and Alpena and received tours of the National All-Domain Warfighting Center, the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, and the vast training ranges in Michigan. At Selfridge, they visited and evaluated several locations on the base ranging from aircraft hangars and office space to parking ramps and base amenities.
According to the U.S. Department of State, Singapore is one of the United States’ strongest bilateral partners in Southeast Asia and plays an indispensable role in supporting the region’s security and economic framework. The United States cooperates with Singapore on the full range of security issues, to include border security, maritime security, military preparedness, counter proliferation, cybersecurity, and counterterrorism. The U.S. has $7.34 billion in active government to government sales cases with Singapore under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) system.
Selfridge is one of five bases across the country competing to become the foreign military sales training center. The others include: Buckley Air Force Base in Colorado; Fort Smith Airport in Arkansas; the Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas; and Hulman Air Field just west of Indianapolis in Indiana. One base will be chosen as the preferred site, along with alternates.
“We stand ready to adapt and flex to a changing environment. We’re ready to host and ready for the opportunity,” Ulmer said.
Selfridge was in the running to house the Air Force’s new F-35 fighting aircraft in 2017. But in April of last year, the Air Force confirmed chosen sites in Alabama and Wisconsin instead. While the new initiative would house F-35s, Ulmer said this competition is different because it would an additive plan, not a replacement plan.
While Singapore would be the primary training partner with the U.S. Air Force, the other three nations would also purchase a portion of the 36 F-35s that would be housed at Selfridge and provide pilots and other personnel for training. Singapore would purchase the largest percentage of F-35s and is leading the search for the other three countries. Singapore would also bring their F-16 operational squadron to the chosen base in June 2023, prior to the stand-up of the F-35 foreign military sales mission.
Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel spoke to the Singaporean contingent, along with other county personnel and a representative from Macomb Community College. Hackel said the contingent was most interested in specialized educational opportunities, as well as housing opportunities and recreation.
“I think it went extremely well. We appealed to their heartstrings,” Hackel said. “They asked a lot of questions and were very engaged. There were a lot of questions about the housing market.
“We talked about strategic planning and how the state of Michigan provides a training box for land, water and air,” Hackel added. “There is no question this installation is set up as the more valued piece of property. I think it is the most competitive. I think we were able to wow them. If we do get it, what a great opportunity to solidify that base as an important installation in this country.”
Hackel believes the opportunity could have a multi-billion dollar impact to Macomb County. Not only are the individual aircraft a hefty investment, but companies and businesses involved in the upkeep and development of the aircraft would also want to be in close proximity.
“It’s an incredible opportunity to entice new businesses,” Hackel said.
The program was announced in July 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic slowed a lot of the progress and scheduling of the search process. Hackel was part of a Zoom call set up in Washington, D.C. in mid-November to speak to representatives of each of the four countries. He anticipates that Singapore will be the only visiting contingent since the Asian country will be buying the most F-35s. He believes they will be advising the other three countries on the best location to consider. But, according to sources at the Michigan National Guard, the final decision on what bases will be chosen rests with the U.S. Air Force.
U.S. Congresswoman Lisa McClain, (R-Bruce Township), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, also attended the meeting at Selfridge.
“I would be thrilled to see Selfridge Air National Guard Base selected by Singapore as a training location and base for their F35s,” she said. “This past weekend, I visited Selfridge and had the opportunity to tell the Singaporean delegation about the wealth of resources not only Selfridge but the entire 10th district has that would make it the best location for their F-35s. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I am constantly advocating for Selfridge and working to bolster opportunities for the base. Selfridge has untapped potential, and having Singapore train its pilots there would be fantastic for Singapore, Selfridge, Michigan and the United States.”
Vicki Selva, the executive director of the Michigan Defense Center, the state’s defense office tasked to protect and grow Michigan’s defense and home- land security missions, said industry and economy was also pleased with the presentation given to the Singaporean contingent. Selva, a Macomb County resident, said landing the training center would be a huge boost to the local economy.
“Gov. Whitmer and Lt. Gov. Gilchrist, Michigan’s strong congressional delegation, Mark Hackel and local leaders, in a bi-partisan way, wrote letters and turned out to show the Air Force that Selfridge and our community stands ready, willing and able to host this important mission,” Selva said. “Initial estimates are that this mission will create 300 military and civilian jobs immediately as well as provide a boost to local aerospace suppliers, the local economy and will secure Selfridge’s flying missions for years to come.”
A timeline for the decision is expected fairly quickly. Penelope Carroll of the Michigan National Guard said the U.S. Air Force is expected to make its decision between April and June 2021.