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Air Force accelerates Tyndall F-15 drawdown

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Joshua Stevens
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Air Force officials released the fiscal year 2010 Combat Air Forces restructuring plan May 18 calling for all 48 F-15s currently assigned to the 325th Fighter Wing to be retired. The drawdown was not unexpected; however, it was accelerated from the planned retirement date in FY 2013.

"Team Tyndall takes great pride in its F-15 mission. It has been a part of the base for decades," said Brig. Gen. Darryl L. Roberson, 325th Fighter Wing commander. "The end of another awesome era, the F-15 era, will now come to an end with this announcement. We understand changes are being made to strengthen and modernize the Air Force's capabilities, accelerating the F-15 retirements will help achieve this. We recognize these changes will not only affect the base, but the local community as well, and we are fully prepared to work hand-in-hand to make this as smooth a transition as possible for all concerned."

The announced actions will phase out both the 2nd and 95th Fighter Squadrons at Tyndall by the end of 2010.

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates announced April 6 the Air Force's plan to accelerate the retirement of approximately 250 legacy fighters, also later reiterated May 7 in the Department of Defense's FY 2010 budget proposal. These retirements will affect F-15s, F-16s and A-10s, coming in addition to an already announced reduction of 5 F-16s for fiscal years 2009 and 2010.

"[The decision] allows us to take some additional strategic risk over the next six to seven years, which we think, given the threat environment and the current strategic interests, is a good time to take this risk," Secretary Gates said.

The restructuring will enable the Air Force to use reassignment and retraining programs to move the manpower authorizations to missions with emerging importance and focus, such as manned and unmanned surveillance operations and nuclear deterrence operations, according to an Air Force press release.

The cost savings of the plan, nearly $355 million in FY 2010 and $3.5 billion over the next five fiscal years, will go directly toward modernizing Air Force fighters and bombers, procuring the munitions favored by joint war-fighters and fund critical intelligence and other enabling technology.

Air Force officials intend to go ahead with F-22 Raptor modifications, budgeting more than $1 billion in FY 2010, Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley said. "We think this is a good package for the Air Force and that it makes good strategic sense."

"We've taken this major step only after a careful assessment of the current threat environment and our current capabilities," said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz. "Make no mistake, we can't stand still on modernizing our fighter force. The Air Force's advantage over potential adversaries is eroding, and this endangers both air and ground forces alike unless there is a very significant investment in bridge capabilities and fifth-generation aircraft and the CAF restructuring gets us there."

Specific details and exact dates concerning this drawdown at Tyndall are being planned and will be released when finalized and approved.

All inquiries into Tyndall's role in the CAF restructuring plan should be directed to 325th FW Public Affairs at (850) 283-4500.