Sioux Falls leaders unite to bring the F-35 to the 114th Fighter Wing and secure its future
On October 25, South Dakota media reported that Sioux Falls business leaders and state political leaders are jointly pressing the U.S. Air Force to equip the South Dakota Air National Guard's 114th Fighter Wing, based in Sioux Falls, with the new-generation F-35 fighter. The F-35 is a fifth-generation fighter expected to serve for decades; winning the aircraft would secure the 114th's place in the national security system for the long term. For Sioux Falls, the roar of military jets has been part of daily life for decades — locals call it 'the sound of freedom' — and the campaign is about keeping that sound. Supporters argue that re-equipping with the F-35 is not just about one wing's hardware: if the wing gets the new jets, its training, maintenance and personnel levels will stabilize with it. For now it remains a lobbying effort, with the final decision in the Air Force's hands, but the city's business and political communities have presented a united front in fighting for their hometown wing's future.
Source: GSM·USA
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图片来源：Wikimedia Commons／Airman 1st Class Alexander Cook（公共领域）
