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Hill Unveils New Runway for F-35 Operations

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org

The Air Force’s biggest F-35 operating base recently unveiled its new $45 million runway, bringing to a close a nine-month project that sent the base’s F-35s to other locations across the world.

The new 13,500-foot runway included new concrete pavement repairs, wider shoulders, a 55-foot widening to the taxiway, new overruns, improved signage, and upgraded lighting, according to a Hill release.

When the second phase of the construction project began in June, Hill sent its F-35s away to allow for the work. Twenty-four F-35s and about 250 airmen went to Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, to operate during this phase. F-35s and airmen also deployed to the Middle East to conduct combat operations out of Al Dhafra AB, United Arab Emirates.

Additionally, other F-35s and airmen deployed to Europe, with construction being a “catalyst” for this move, 421st Fighter Squadron pilot Capt. Joseph Walz told Air Force Magazine during the deployment. It was the first time since F-35s began arriving at Hill in 2015 that the base’s three squadrons had left the Utah location at the same time.

The construction project will help F-35 operations through an expected reduction in foreign object debris, Hill officials said.

“The old runway was literally falling apart, so having a brand new runway will be a major benefit to Hill Air Force Base and its pilots for years to come,” said Thomas Murdock, airfield manager with the 75th Operations Support Squadron, in the release.

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org