After Fighting for Long-Term Investments in Selfridge & Michigan’s Military Installations, Peters and Stabenow Welcome Pentagon’s Commitment

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Debbie Stabenow (MI) announced that they secured significant commitments from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) that ensures the military’s commitment to Selfridge Air National Guard Base as a key facility to our national security. In a letter that was sent to both Senators, the U.S. Air Force highlighted the long-term roles that the A-10 and KC-135 missions currently at Selfridge will continue to play in the branch’s future planning.

“I’m proud that Michigan is home to a number of military installations that are critical to our national defense. I pressed the Department of Defense and Air Force to make investments in our state, and I’m pleased to have secured these commitments that reaffirm how Selfridge and military facilities across Michigan will continue to play a key role in future operations,” said Senator Peters, a former Lt. Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve. “I’m going to continue working to support Michigan’s growing defense footprint and ensure that the Department of Defense continues to recognize our state’s strategic role in future military planning, development and training.”

“The men and women who serve at Michigan’s military installations are the finest in all of the armed forces—they're simply second to none. Not only do they keep us safe, but they are a key part of our communities and state’s economy. That’s why Senator Peters and I pushed so hard to ensure that the Air Force and Defense Department recognized how unique Michigan’s military installations really are and why we will hold them to the commitments they made,” said Senator Stabenow.

“We want to thank Senator Peters and our entire congressional delegation for their continued support for Selfridge Air National Guard Base,” said Macomb County Executive Mark A. Hackel. “Locally Selfridge is known as our Hometown Airbase, but through our collective efforts, the inspiring work of the military and civilian personnel at the base is being discussed at the federal level.  We believe these mission and base modernization efforts will ensure that Selfridge remains a critical asset in our nation’s defense.”

Peters and Stabenow have fought to secure the future of Selfridge and support operations at the facility. The letter and commitments from the Department of Defense that both Senators secured ensures that the A-10 mission at Selfridge continues to play a critical role in national defense, and is in a prime position for future fighter and refueling missions in the future.

The full letter that both Senators received from the Air Force can be found below, or by clicking here:

I am writing to share details on the Department of the Air Force’s plans for the future of Selfridge Air National Guard Base. These plans ensure Selfridge will play a critical and ongoing role for our national security, building on the base’s storied past that dates back to World War I. Specifically, I would like to confirm the continuation of the 127th Wing’s flying missions involving the A-10 and KC-135 aircraft and place those missions within the broader context of our plans for the future of our fighter and tanker fleets.

The Air Force’s future fighter force plan involves right-sizing the entire A-10 fleet to 218 aircraft and maintaining seven operational A-10 squadrons into the 2030s or beyond. Selfridge’s 107th Fighter Squadron will retain all of its existing A-10s for the next decade while also modernizing those aircraft. Ten of the twenty-one A-10s at Selfridge have already received wing upgrades with the remaining eleven to be complete by FY 26. Put simply, Selfridge’s critical role as an A-10 base will continue.

There is also an enduring requirement for air refueling capability within the Air Force. The Selfridge KC-135s will remain an indispensable source of tanker capacity for our national security. The 171st Air Refueling Squadron will be part of the three hundred KC-135s the Air Force plans to keep. We intend to replace them with either the KC-46 or a future follow-on tanker aircraft. Selfridge’s critical role as a base for KC 135s will continue.

Like you, we are proud of the men and women of the Selfridge’s 127th Wing. The Department of the Air Force is grateful for the continued support you and the community provide that enables the critical missions of this base. As we adapt our Air Force to meet current and future national security challenges, Selfridge will continue to play an essential role. We remain available to provide additional details on the Air Force’s plans for Selfridge Air National Guard Base.

Sincerely,

John P. Roth

Acting

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