Madison Gets F-35 Jets; City Council Voices Opposition

The United States Air Force has chosen Madison, Wisconsin as one of two homes for their new F-35 jets; at the same time, the Madison City Council has passed an advisory resolution opposing the move.

Wisconsin Air National Guard’s 115th Fighter Wing will host the F-35 mission at Truax Field.  The move advances their mission for the future - replacing the older F-16 fighter jets.  In a statement announcing the decision, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Oshkosh, said it “ensures Wisconsin’s 115th Fighter Wing will now receive a critical upgrade with the F-35 replacing the aging F-16 fighter jets currently in service.”  The new jets bring opportunities for more jobs, new construction, and positive elements to Madison's (and Wisconsin's) economy.

It also brings opposition.  At their first-ever virtual meeting, the Madison City Council passed the advisory resolution - coming out in opposition to the new F-35 jets being located in their metro.  The move follows an earlier resolution from the same council back in September 2019; that resolution asked the Air Force to reconsider locating the jets in the city until an impact study could be performed.