Sen. Kent Conrad (R-N.D.) says Air Force leaders have Minot AFB, N.D., “in their long-term plans,” reports The Minot Daily News. Conrad, who spoke at a press conference last week after touring the base, has been key in the Senate ICBM Coalition’s push to restrain the Air Force from removing 50 ICBMs from service unless USAF needs the missiles for test flights. He said in a statement that the coalition has “several military objectives that will only help to secure the future of Minot Air Force Base as a thriving partner in the Minot region’s economy.”
The new defense reconciliation bill includes $7.2 billion for Air Force and Navy aviation accounts, almost half of which will buy more F-15EXs. While electronic warfare, drones, connectivity and airlift all get attention, the F-35 was conspicuously absent from the package, with no explanation given.