Fort Smith Site is Finalist for Singapore Pilot Training

23 Juli 2020

Singapore's F35 (photo : Lowyinstitute)

FORT SMITH -- Airmen from the Republic of Singapore could one day train with American pilots in Arkansas' second-largest city, according to the office of U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton.

Fort Smith Regional Airport has been selected as one of five possible sites to host both F-35 planes and Singapore's F-16 squadron, Cotton's office said. Cotton has advocated for Fort Smith to be included in this economic development and national security initiative for a long time.

"Fort Smith is a strong candidate for Singapore's F-16 squadron and future F-35 aircraft," Cotton said in a statement. "The United States deeply values our relationship with Singapore, and I appreciate [Air Force] Secretary [Barbara] Barrett's consideration of Arkansas as a location for our important defense partnership. I look forward to working with the Air Force and the state of Arkansas to ensure that Fort Smith is a welcome location for this vital new national security mission."

Similarly, U.S. Rep. Steve Womack said in a statement that Fort Smith has everything the Air Force needs for the training center.

"With our strategic location and strong community, we are primed to support our allies and the next generation of air combat capabilities," Womack said. "I look forward to working with Secretary Barrett and my fellow Arkansans as the vetting process continues. The River Valley is ready to take on this critical defense mission."

Barrett signed a memorandum on July 6 to establish a permanent Foreign Military Sales training center for 24 to 36 F-35 long-term Foreign Military Sales aircraft and Republic of Singapore air force F-16s based within the continental United States, Cotton's office stated. Singapore's air force is an F-35 Foreign Military Sales customer that wants to collocate its F-16 squadron, currently at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, with its F-35 aircraft at a long-term site.

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