A major air force base in southern Arizona could soon be receiving nearly $3 million in federal funding for a series of long-planned facility upgrades.
Located roughly 15 miles to the west of Phoenix, the Luke Air Force Base was established in 1941 and is the home to the 56th Fighter Wing, the largest fighter wing in the U.S. Air Force.
Now members of Congress are reviewing hundreds of proposed funding projects folded into the most recent National Defense Authorization Act that includes $2.6 million for the upgrading of the control tower, fire station, and base operations complex at Luke.
The work would primarily take place at Luke’s Gila Bend Auxiliary Airfield, which is used for pilot training.
The legislation, which has been approved by the House of Representatives and is now under review in the Senate, is also calling for funding for maintenance work at the Munitions Storage Area at Luke.
A move is additionally on to secure funding in upcoming legislation for Luke’s Child Development Center.
Funding for the various projects at the Luke base is part of a larger more than $60 million that could be headed to Arizona for work at the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson; Fort Huachuca, near the town of Sierra Vista; the Barry M Goldwater Range, adjacent to the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge; the Yuma Proving Grounds and Marine Air Corps Air Station, both in Yuma; and Camp Navajo in Bellemont.
In a statement, Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema remarked that “America is stronger and safer thanks to Arizona’s military and defense operations.”
Sinema added that the Arizona military base funding projects represent “critical investments from our annual bipartisan defense legislation.”
By Garry Boulard
