Despite first-round bye, base still a strong F-35 contender

The new Gunfighter Services Center, a facility undergoing extensive renovations at Mountain Home Air Force Base, represents just one of the 850 hangars, shops and support facilities being replaced or upgraded to accommodate the base's combat mission. Improvements like this are some of the benefits base officials highlighted during a recent media orientation day that makes the installation a strong contender for new missions, like the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Photo by Brian S. Orban

Despite missing out on becoming the Air Force's first F-35 fighter installation, Mountain Home Air Force Base remains a strong contender to get these next-generation jets in coming years, according to the base's senior leader.

"There's a very good chance that the F-35 will be at Mountain Home Air Force Base," even if it needs to wait past the next round of selections within the next three years, said Col. Ron Buckley.

Mountain Home was one of five installations previously included on a short list of preferred bases to serve as the Air Force's initial Joint Strike Fighter wing. In July, the Air Force named Hill Air Force Base in Utah and the Air National Guard base in Burlington, Vt., as its preferred alternatives for the first three operational F-35 squadrons. Hill AFB in Salt Lake City expects to receive two of the first three F-35 squadrons.

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