Believing that the voices of those who support bringing the F-35 to Eglin AFB, Fla., are being drowned out by those opposed to it, the Economic Development Council of Okaloosa County has launched a pro-F-35 campaign. The Northwest Florida Daily News reported March 1 that the council has begun a mass e-mail effort that asks local residents to participate in an online “quick poll” at the Web site of Rep. Jeff Miller (R), the Congressman for the Eglin area, to see if they are in favor of the decision to locate a primary F-35 schoolhouse at Eglin. So far, Miller’s site shows that the response has been overwhelmingly favorable. The EDC is also circulating a summary of the US military’s overall economic impact on the county and the benefits of the F-35 coming to Eglin, according to the newspaper. While Paul Hsu, EDC chairman, said he sympathizes with the concerns of Valparaiso residents over the F-35’s noise levels, he thinks the lawsuit that the city intends to file (see above) “will restrict the Air Force’s ability to address these concerns.” The Air Force, Hsu said, has already noted Valparaiso’s worries in its decision to conduct a supplemental environmental impact study.
Navy CCA Program’s Shape Coming into Focus
Oct. 17, 2025
In announcing its Navy Collaborative Combat Aircraft contract, General Atomics has provided some clues as to where the service is heading with its version of an armed, autonomous fighter escort. It will likely be quite different from the Air Force version.
