South Carolina Delegation Sought F-35A Base
The state congressional group pushed for F-35A fighter aircraft to be based at McEntire Joint National Guard Base.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Military
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South Carolina's full congressional delegation sent a letter to the Secretary of the Air Force urging the service to place F-35A fighter jets at McEntire Joint National Guard Base. The group contends the facility offers the best immediate return on investment for the Air Force.
Why it matters
Securing these advanced aircraft would leverage the decade of infrastructure and airspace investments already completed at the installation. Local leaders argue the base and the 169th Fighter Wing are uniquely prepared to support the F-35A mission.
The Air Force is currently evaluating potential basing sites through its Ops 16 and 17 decision process. This selection will determine the future home of the F-35A fleet.
The players
Troy Meink
He is the Secretary of the Air Force who received the formal request from the South Carolina delegation.
169th Fighter Wing
This unit is based at McEntire Joint National Guard Base and has a history of combat deployments including Operation Epic Fury.
The details
The delegation requested that Air Force Secretary Troy Meink consider McEntire for the new jets, citing the base's existing training airspace and support personnel. The 169th Fighter Wing, which previously deployed for Operation Epic Fury, has spent over a decade preparing the facility for this specific platform.
Timeline
September 2026: The South Carolina congressional delegation formally petitioned the Air Force Secretary for the base selection.
Political Context
The push for new fighter basing typically faces resistance from other state delegations competing for the same multi-billion dollar defense contracts. These legislative battles focus on maximizing regional economic impacts and long-term military readiness benchmarks.
The potential selection of McEntire as an F-35A site could bring significant long-term infrastructure funding and permanent defense jobs to the area. Residents may see increased flight operations and further investment in base-adjacent facilities if the bid is successful.
The takeaway
The effort underscores how states compete to host modern military assets to ensure the longevity of their local National Guard installations. Providing established infrastructure remains a key strategy for bases hoping to secure next-generation aircraft missions.
Further reading
For more background on regional defense priorities, visit South Carolina Military.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WCBD 2 - Charleston.
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