Martha McSally: 4-pronged strategy to keep D-M viable, open

Davis-Monthan Air Force Base is a national security treasure with unique, high-value attributes. It is perfect specifically to train tactical air-to-ground aircraft, which is why over 80 A-10s are staioned there.

Thanks to months of tireless work leading the effort to defend this life-saving platform — and an amendment I offered to prohibit putting any more A-10s in the bone yard — the House acted to fully fund, upgrade and protect the A-10 next year.

But they will not stay in our inventory forever. Our community must unify to welcome new future platforms at Davis-Monthan — or risk losing the benefits of this base for good.

During my 26 years in the Air Force, I was stationed at Davis-Monthan four times, including assignments as an A-10 combat pilot, instructor pilot, and culminating as the 354th Fighter Squadron Commander. We trained in high and low altitude, during day or night, and had to be ready to deploy anywhere in the world on 24 hours’ notice.

The conditions we trained in make D-M one of the best bases in the country for tactical air-to-ground strike training. It features: thousands of square miles of high- and low-altitude military airspace; more than 300 days of sunshine a year; and close proximity to the Barry M. Goldwater training ranges, where pilots can drop bombs, missiles and bullets over seven expansive and sophisticated ranges.

Any plan for the future of Davis-Monthan must take advantage of these amazing attributes, which are valuable to America’s Air Force. To think D-M can survive long-term without a strike flying mission is fiction.

Congress may continue to stave off another round of Base Realignment and Closures (BRAC) in the near-term, but that won’t stop the administration from eliminating many missions around the country. The Department of Defense has stated it has over 25 percent more infrastructure capacity than needed — a clear sign officials are looking to downsize.

Right now, the Air Force plans to eventually replace every single manned tactical air-to-ground aircraft — F-16, F-15E, A-10 — as well as the F-15C air-to-air fighter, with the F-35.

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Even though Davis-Monthan is home to all initial A-10 training, the Air Force already decided Luke Air Force Base, where initial F-16 training occurs, will house all AF F-35 training, using the same weather, airspace and training ranges we utilize. It also plans to house operational F-35s at bases in Utah, Alaska, Vermont and the United Kingdom.

The 162nd Fighter Wing at Tucson International Airport was already bypassed as a potential F-35 training location, and the dozens of bases in the country housing F-16s, F-15Es, F-15Cs and A-10s will be fighting for the F-35 to keep their bases open, too.

Given the environment of competition and downsizing, if we want to keep Davis-Monthan viable and open in the future, we should have a four-pronged strategy.

First, we must continue to protect the A-10 to ensure our troops on the ground have the best close air support (CAS) we can provide until a replacement capability is operational. It can fly currently until 2028 and that can be extended with service-life extension programs if desired.

Second, if the Pentagon decides to develop a next generation CAS aircraft to replace the A-10, we must posture ourselves to receive that airplane at D-M. I’ve engaged with Air Force officials about the need for a new attack plane, and D-M would be the obvious choice to house such an aircraft.

Third, we simply must unite as a community to advocate for stationing the F-35 at D-M. Groups like the DM50 and Southern Arizona Defense Alliance are already doing a great job bringing together different elements of our community, and should be central leaders to any strategy.

Lastly, we must welcome any future flying missions here to include combat search and rescue, electronic jamming and drones to complement the fighter mission and keep the base fully utilized.

Davis-Monthan employs 10,000 of our neighbors, including airmen, civilians and contractors, and adds nearly $1.5 billion to our local economy. It is a treasure we cannot afford to lose. Only by coming together and truly speaking with one voice that we will accept any mission with a focus on air-to-ground platforms —including the F-35 — can we ensure its future and that of Southern Arizona.