DETROIT, MI – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) recently led a bipartisan, bicameral group of Michigan congressional delegation members in urging U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall to select Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Macomb County to host a new squadron of KC-46A refueling tankers. The letter to Secretary Kendall highlighted Selfridge’s unique capability to host these tankers while reiterating the delegation’s commitment to ensuring Selfridge is also selected to host a new, long-term fighter jet mission. This effort came after the Air Force previously identified Selfridge as “an indispensable source of tanker capacity for our national security” in a letter to Peters in 2021.

DETROIT NEWS: Michigan lawmakers seek new refueling aircraft to secure future of Selfridge base

“In a letter signed by nearly the entire Michigan delegation plus Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Sen. Gary Peters of Bloomfield Township says Selfridge is the "ideal" location and candidate for a squadron of 12 KC-46s, as well as for new fighter aircraft to replace the base's A-10 squadron.

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“Peters told The Detroit News he wants to lock in a public and ‘firm commitment’ by the Air Force so that Selfridge gets on that list.

“‘Right now, Selfridge is not on any formal list of getting a squadron,’ Peters said in an interview. ‘I want to make sure that we actually get that squadron, and it's important for us to push the Air Force to make a public commitment and put it on the formal list of a future commitment to base KC-46s at Selfridge.’

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“‘Basically, getting the KC-46 future-proofs Selfridge. They're the tanker of the future, and they are the key to overcoming the vast distances that we have in the Indo-Pacific, which is what we are making sure that we're prepared for to deal with contingencies there,’ Peters told The News.

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“‘We are still aggressively going to work towards making sure we get a replacement fighter mission for the A-10s. But given the fact that the KC-135s are also vulnerable, it would not be prudent for us to pass on opportunity to get the next generation of fuel tanker,’ Peters said.

“‘Fuel tankers will always be a part of the future going forward. We always need to refuel aircraft in the air. That's not a mission that's going to go away anytime soon.’

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“‘We want to make sure we're positioning Selfridge for the long-term future and where the technology is going. We want to have missions that are going to be around for 50 years, for long term.’”

The 127th Wing at Selfridge currently operates the KC-135 Stratotanker in support of the global mobility mission, offering unparalleled synergy of training, efficiency, and mobility opportunities and operations. Placement of the KC-46 tankers, a next-generation air refueler that will be crucial to the future of U.S. defense strategy and operations, will help cement Selfridge’s position as a critical component to our national security.

This came after Peters recently urged leaders of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees to include funding in the 2024 defense appropriation bills for additional fighter aircraft such as the F-15EX at Selfridge. In this letter, Peters also advocated for continued funding for Exercise Northern Strike and the modernization of Army National Guard facilities to ensure equitable access for female servicemembers. Peters additionally previously led a bipartisan, bicameral effort with the Michigan congressional delegation calling for a new fighter mission at Selfridge and introduced companion resolutions to highlight the contributions of Selfridge. Peters and Senator Debbie Stabenow (MI) have also previously secured significant commitments from the Department of Defense, including a pledge that Selfridge will continue to play a “critical and ongoing role for our national security.”

Earlier this year, Peters and other leaders in Michigan’s congressional delegation participated in the groundbreaking for a new $28 million aircraft hangar made by possible by federal funding that Peters secured through his work on the Senate Armed Services Committee. The new 41,900 square-foot facility will transform two hangars into a new hangar equipped for fighter maintenance and help to better position the base to be selected for a new, long-term fighter mission.

Selfridge supports approximately 5,000 military and civilian jobs and generates an estimated $850 million in economic impact statewide.

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