Florida Delegation unites in call to base F-35s in Jacksonville

Yet again, Florida lawmakers have a message for Washington: base F-35 jets in Jacksonville.

The entire Florida Delegation signed on to a letter to Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson making the case for Jacksonville to house these fighter jets.

The letter contends that Jacksonville’s 125^th Fighter Wing “best meets the F-35 basing requirements at the lowest cost to the taxpayer and has unparalleled training infrastructure and airspace.”

“We are confident that your continued review will show that 125^th Fighter Wing is highly capable of supporting this fifth-generation fighter platform and that basing the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter in Jacksonville applies the right force at the right place,” the letter continues.

Jacksonville is competing for one of two base locations that will be announced this summer. The competition includes Montgomery, Alabama in the Southeast, two locations in the Midwest, and Boise.

The letter from the Congressional delegation was not the first; in 2016, former Reps. Ander Crenshaw and Gwen Graham advocated for the F-35 base in Jacksonville.

With BRAC looming, F-35 jets become even more important to Jacksonville, a city as co-branded with the military as any in the country.

We are confident that your continued review will show that 125^th Fighter Wing is highly capable of supporting this fifth-generation fighter platform and that basing the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter in Jacksonville applies the right force at the right place. We look forward to your upcoming decision and standby to assist in any further way.