BURLINGTON, Vt. — The Vermont Air National Guard says 20 F-35 jets are coming to Burlington International Airport next year, despite opposition from local leaders.
Local 22 reports the jets will begin arriving in September 2019. The planes will replace a fleet of older F-16 jets.
Col. Adam Rice says the base has “$100 million in facility upgrades under contract.” Upgrades include an operations building, a maintenance hangar and mission simulators.
Officials in South Burlington voted against basing the jets at the airport. Burlington passed a resolution earlier this year requesting the Air Force use an aircraft quieter than the F-35.
The resolutions are not legally binding over the Air Force, which is part of the Department of Defense. Vermont’s congressional delegation supports the jets’ basing in Burlington.
