Welcome, warbird
The economic and strategic importance of Nellis Air Force Base was on full display Tuesday, when the U.S. Air Force held an official arrival ceremony for the F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter. The Pentagon plans to buy more than 2,400 of the aircraft for the country and its allies, and by 2020, 36 of them are expected to be based at Nellis.
No one can say with certainty how air combat will evolve in the decades ahead. What is certain, however, is the country’s need for new, advanced aircraft, and the role of the Nellis and Creech air bases in testing those jets and training their pilots and crews. There is simply no other place in the world that provides as much open land and airspace — while perfectly simulating the geography of Middle Eastern terrain.
Along with the F-22 Raptor, the F-35 cements Nellis’ mission well into the future. F-35s alone will account for 400 new local jobs and $185 million in construction. Together, Nellis, Creech and the Nevada Test and Training Range employ about 33,000 people, with an annual payroll of $900 million.
Yes, the Defense Department budget is a big chunk of overall federal spending — almost 20 percent. And overall federal spending, including defense spending, must be cut before the growing national debt creates a global economic crisis. But defense is a core federal responsibility, enumerated in the Constitution. And the country’s global air superiority is heavily dependent upon the capabilities of Nellis. We imagine that if the Pentagon actually prioritized its budget and chopped wasteful and redundant appropriations, the effect on Nellis would be negligible. You can’t scrap an Air Force and expect to rebuild it on a moment’s notice, when it’s needed.
Welcome, warbird. Las Vegas salutes you.
