I'm guessing we will have F-35s at Eielson or Elmendorf in a few years (but I suspect it will be the F-35C, or the F-35D, or the F-35E model (after they've 'worked all the kinks' out)...

Eielson may be still "open" in a few years, but I bet there will be no permanently assigned aircraft. And when that happens, 90% of the jobs will be gone.

don't be silly. F-35's are just as useful to the united states and the western world in peace time as they are in war time. the effect of having these jets along with a large number of less complicated ones as well effects the way the whole world behaves. for instance, if the usa would suddenly drop off the face of the planet china would be all over taiwan and a lot of people would die and the ones that didn't die would be red chinese instead (something i'm guessing they don't want). anytime we attempt to negotiate (an obama favorite plan) with another country over anything, what you have parked on the tarmac on your AFB's really matter. F-35's may not help find bin laden, but they might help russia decide to be a bit more cooperative in our efforts. the only question is do they need to be parked at eielson or not.

Put my name under the missile defense screen list. Being located this far north we can cover a pretty large area with a variety of defensive/offensive options. I would also point out that we are a likely invasion point being located so close to both Russia and China with the infrastructure to support strikes towards the lower 48 and Canada.

I'd much rather see larger numbers of less sophisticated airframes that provide for saturation defense/offense than an extremely expensive toy in limited numbers that some partisan with a $5.00 bullet or $50.00 mortar round can take out of commission.

No, I do not consider drones the future either. They help the soldier/airman do their job better but the machines have no loyalties except to the individuals controlling them.

Hooray for progress.

I told people that told me to vote for Obama last year that Obama would cut the Missile Defense Shield so kiss Fort Greely good bye, and that when the next round of base closures come you will probably see Eielson AFB closed. Why? Because there was a widely circulated speech on YouTube where Obama outlined his plans for dismantling our military. Alaska thrives on the military and interior Alaska has to have the military. The oil companies located in Anchorage so Fairbanks is almost totally dependent on defense spending. Add to this the conservative tone of Fairbanks and you have a bombshell. It is no surprise that the F35's are not going to be located at Eielson. Expect the next round of base closures to end the life of this base. It might become a refueling station, but other than that, I fully expect to see it closed, especially since we no longer have Senator Stevens. Oh yes, property values should decline in the North Pole area by a least 30 percent. Damn, I am glad I am retired. Fishing and hunting is all this country is good for anyway.

I meant China has a budget of 70 billion, not 60.

Pork barrel is a derogatory term referring to appropriation of government spending for localized projects secured solely or primarily to bring money to a representative's district. The usage originated in American English.

Pork barrel

I think the term pork applies to this plane and here is why. Our enemy right now is terrorism based and not cold war based. The terrorist don't even own planes to shoot at! Many of the weapons that congress buys, the military themselves really do not want or need. How can this be? JOBS. These big military projects get spread around to many districts and states and no congressman or senator wants to be the one who cut jobs from their district. It is political suicide. Well folks the game is coming to and end soon. The military budget is now somewhere north of 600 billion (not including the war expenses) while the next highest nation in military spending, China, has a military budget of 60 billion. Ironically, China is the major country lending money to the US. Why would they want to lend us money so we can outspend their military expenditures by a factor of 10?

List of countries by military expenditures

Who cares we got enough military in this town now we dont need anymore. I think a missile defense would be much better than some planes. Oh yeah your new format DNM still sucks your old one was better.

I'm not disappointed! It could be a good thing, look for the positive in this!

Good bye Eielson, where are they going? Does this mean we get the land (after they “clean” it up ) and airspace back? Points that are brought up by Young are valid, DOD does get massive space to train up here. DOD is going nowhere

OP sarcasm? We love us some pork

http://www.cagw.org/site/PageServer?pagename=reports_pigbook2009_porkpercap

I'm not surprised; I am disappointed however.

The first wing (or two) should probably go to some place in the central part of the United States where they are easily accessible to the manufacturer / developer until all of the initial "bugs" can be isolated and modified.

It might be appropriate to base the 3rd or 4th Wing up here (probably in 3 to 5 years in this 'political climate').

I'm just surprised Elmendorf is not even on the list, I mean geographically it makes sense!

Oh Please yourself... What does funding the military have to do with pork spending? Or are you one of those that believes that if we disbanded our military everyone would simply leave us alone?

Don't be stupid rubit. The existence of Eielson is not dependent on the F-35s.

But stay aware that Obama may want to bring home the troops now that WWII is long over...

This is not a problem as we Alaskans are adamantly against federal pork spending.

Say good-bye to Eielson everyone.