Fighter Wing at Truax Field in Madison 1 of 5 candidates to receive Air Force's F-35A Lightning II

MADISON -- The United States Air Force announced Wednesday, December 7th the 115th Fighter Wing at Truax Field was selected as one of five candidate bases for further evaluation to receive the Air Force's F-35A Lightning II.

According to a statement from the Wisconsin Army and Air National Guard, the Air Force used an objective selection process to identify candidate bases and will ultimately select two Air National Guard bases for the F-35A.

"I could not be more proud of the men and women who serve at the 115th Fighter Wing," Gov. Scott Walker said in the statement. "Gaining the F-35A mission in Wisconsin would realize tremendous economic efficiencies for the American taxpayer based on the 115th Fighter Wing's proximity to over 10,000 square miles of military operating airspace and co-located range at Volk Field."

"Truax Field in Madison and Volk Combat Readiness Training Center in Camp Douglas possess premier tactical training capabilities necessary for our nation's most advanced fighter jets to maintain mission readiness to serve the American people," Wisconsin's Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Donald Dunbar said in the statement. "We look forward to working with the Air Force as they move forward to make their final decision."

The Air Force will conduct further assessments of the candidate bases to select the next two Air National Guard F-35A locations, which will serve as hosts for an F-35 operational mission.