8/6/2019 110531-F35_Op_Ed

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F-35 Essential to America and Alabama

Op-Edby Lieutenant Governor Kay Ivey

Wilbur Wright once said, “It is possible to fly without motors, but not without knowledge andskill.” Recognizing education was essential to success, the Wright brothers founded the firstflight school in the United States on the grounds of what would one day become Maxwell Air Force Base. Those early investments resonate today, as many Alabama higher educationinstitutions carry on that same tradition of excellence with the next generation of pilots,engineers and astronauts. But the ability for tomorrow’s graduates to use the knowledge andskill they cultivate from these highly-specialized programs means they have to have jobs inwhich to use them. That’s why supporting multi-service programs such as the F-35 joint strikefighter are essential.

The F-35 program is essential to our national defense needs and the needs of our allies. China,Russia and other countries continue to invest in developing planes with cutting edge technology.If we don’t make the same investments, we will fall behind. The F-35 is required to be four timesmore effective than older fighter jets in air-to-air combat, eight times more effective in air-to-ground combat, and three times more effective in reconnaissance and suppression of air defenses – while having better range and requiring less logistics support. In light of the increasein the number of issues we are facing in the Middle East and places like Libya, America’s abilityto retain its air superiority edge is essential to the security of US and allies forces all over theworld.

And that edge could translate into more jobs in Alabama if Congress continues to fund the F-35at adequate levels. Based on today’s numbers, the program supports a broad industrial base of over 1,300 suppliers in 47 states and Puerto Rico, contributing over 127,000 direct and indirect

US jobs and over $12.6 billion in economic impact estimated for 2011. In Alabama, thattranslates into over 100 jobs and $5.5 million in local revenue. A production ramp-up can onlymean more jobs for Alabama graduates and that can only happen with the continued support of our members of Congress.

In addition to providing industrial jobs to Alabama, the F-35 project is also important from alocal mission based standpoint. The 187th Fighter Wing of the Alabama Air National Guard based in Montgomery is one of only four Air National Guard Associate units utilizing activeduty Airmen as well as Air National Guard technicians together as part of the same unit. The F-16’s now flying will soon extend beyond their airframe life expectancy. A reduction in production of the F-35 could leave the proud and effective 187th grounded, making this unit in

Montgomery more vulnerable to closure and negatively affecting other missions throughout thestate.

Alabama and aviation have been intertwined for more than a century, and for that long history tocontinue into the next century, we need to support projects that support tomorrow’s graduateswith tomorrow’s jobs. Plain and simple, the F-35 program fulfills a national need and createslocal jobs. All “the knowledge and skill” in the world doesn’t mean much without a place toshare it.