FAQs

The National Guard Bureau and Department of the Air Force propose to maintain the combat capability of the Air National Guard fighter wings operating the F-15C/D aircraft. These aircraft have reached the end of their lifespan and will be phased out due to future safety and maintenance concerns. The proposal is the beddown, operation, and associated infrastructure construction of one formal training unit squadron of F-35A Lightning II aircraft at Kingsley Field Air National Guard Base at Crater Lake-Klamath Regional Airport in Klamath Falls, Oregon.

The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) also evaluates the No Action Alternative, as required by the National Environmental Policy Act. Under the No Action Alternative, the Proposed Action would not occur. The Draft EIS evaluates ongoing base operations and considers facility and infrastructure projects needed to support continued base operations.

The alternatives are:

  • Proposed Action: Beddown and operation of one F-35A Formal Training Unit squadron at Kingsley Field Air National Guard Base, including associated infrastructure construction.
  • No Action Alternative: The Proposed Action would not occur. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement evaluates ongoing base operations and considers facility and infrastructure projects needed to support continued base operations. The No Action Alternative does not meet the purpose and need for the Proposed Action.

The proposal includes up to 24 primary assigned aircraft and 2 backup aircraft, for a total of 26 F-35A aircraft at the 173d Fighter Wing.

The beddown would occur in phases associated with F-35A aircraft production and delivery. Delivery of the first aircraft is expected in fiscal year (FY) 2027, and delivery of the full complement is expected by FY 2029, when up to 24 primary assigned aircraft and 2 backup aircraft would be based at the 173d Fighter Wing.

Yes. The Proposed Action includes associated infrastructure construction, renovation and demolition to support the beddown and operation of the F-35A Formal Training Unit squadron. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement evaluates the potential environmental impacts of that construction and operation.

The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) evaluates aircraft noise using established federal noise modeling methods that assess potential changes in noise exposure under both the Proposed Action and the No Action Alternative. Different noise metrics are applied depending on the type of aircraft activity being analyzed, such as airfield operations or military training airspace operations.

For airfield-related noise, the analysis evaluates changes in aircraft noise exposure in the area around Crater Lake–Klamath Regional Airport/Kingsley Field Air National Guard Base. For military training airspace, the analysis uses methods and assumptions appropriate for evaluating training activity and potential noise exposure in areas beneath or near training routes and airspace.

The Draft EIS describes the noise modeling methods, assumptions, and results used to evaluate potential noise effects.

The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) evaluates potential changes in noise at Crater Lake–Klamath Regional Airport/Kingsley Field Air National Guard Base and in military training airspace associated with the Proposed Action and the No Action Alternative. The noise analysis methods and results are presented in the Draft EIS and the Noise Study.

The F-15C/D aircraft previously assigned to the 173d Fighter Wing have been retired as part of the Department of the Air Force’s transition from aging legacy aircraft that had reached the end of their service life.