Hill AFB to lose 24 F-16s

HILL AIR FORCE BASE — The 388th Fighter Wing at Hill Air Force Base is expected to lose 24 of its 72 F-16s under a restructuring plan announced by the U.S. Air Force this week.

The plan is designed to speed up the retirement of about 250 aircraft in order to fund a smaller and more capable force, as well as redistribute people for higher priority missions.

Besides the number of planes that will leave Hill, officials don't know when they will be removed, where they will go, how personnel will be impacted or how the mission of the 388th will change.

"It's too early to tell," said Maj. Bernadette Dozier, spokeswoman for the wing.

So all the 388th can do is focus on its current mission, she said.

"In fact, we currently have more than 300 airmen, as well as F-16s, deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom," Dozier said.

Those airmen, who deployed in January, are expected to return by the end of May.

Senior Air Force officials estimate that they can save $355 million in fiscal 2010 and $3.5 billion over the next five fiscal years with the reduction in numbers of what are known as legacy fighters.

Currently on the chopping block, according to the Air Force, are 112 F-15 Eagles, 134 F-16 fighting Falcons and three A-10 Thunderbolt IIs.

In a statement, Air Force Secretary Michael Donley said this is a strategic window of opportunity to do some important things with fighter aircraft restructuring.

But Donley acknowledges that fewer fighting aircraft means a risk to the security of the United States.

"By accepting some short-term risk, we can convert our inventory of legacy fighters and F-22 (Raptors) into a smaller, more flexible and lethal bridge to fifth-generation fighters like the F-35 (Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter)," he said. "We'll also add manpower to capabilities needed now for operations across the spectrum of conflict."

Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz expect that, depending on future studies, about 4,000 people could be shifted to emerging missions, such as manned and unmanned surveillance and nuclear-deterrence operations, according to their statement.

That could mean an expansion of the MQ-1 Predator, MQ-9 Reaper and MC-12 Liberty air crews, as well as a new active-duty B-52 squadron, as well as more support for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

E-MAIL: jdougherty@desnews.com