WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Sens. Gary Peters and Elissa Slotkin have joined a group of colleagues in leading bipartisan legislation to preserve the U.S. Air Force’s fighter force structure and support the recapitalization of Air National Guard fighter missions, including at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Macomb County.

“National Guard fighter squadrons play a vital role in our national defense, and it’s essential that we protect these missions and position them for long-term success,” said Peters, a member of the Armed Services Committee and former Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve. “This bipartisan legislation supports our continued efforts to secure a new fighter mission at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, which would help ensure Michigan remains critical to U.S. military strategy and defense against our adversaries around the world.”

Said Slotkin: “With emerging threats on the rise, our U.S. Air Force should retain its air combat power at Selfridge Air National Guard Base. The National Guard hosts the majority of America’s deployable combat air forces, and the fighter mission at Selfridge plays a vital role in defending the entire country. Keeping the fighter mission will ensure that decades of combat-proven experience — based right here in Michigan — from our pilots, operators, maintainers, and force support experts will continue.”

Of the 25 Air National Guard fighter squadrons in existence today, 15 currently do not have a recapitalization or modernization plan to replace retiring legacy fighters, including Selfridge.