WASHINGTON - Hill Air Force Base is a giant leap closer to landing the F-35A Lightening II Joint Strike Fighter. Air Force officials today announced the base in northern Utah is one of three U.S. Air Force bases that will receive between one and three squadrons of the fighter aircraft.

Sens. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Bob Bennett (R-Utah) and Reps. Rob Bishop (R-Utah), Jim Matheson (D-Utah) and Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) hailed the Air Force's announcement.

Hatch said: "Today is a great day for Utah. To be one of the first three bases to receive this state-of-the-art aircraft is an incredible honor. This announcement is the culmination of years of work to preserve the viability of the Utah Testing and Training Range. It is further confirmation, if any was needed, of the high esteem and confidence the Air Force places in the base and the dedicated, professional and highly trained men and women who work there. For the past year now, I have been meeting with senior Air Force officials to reinforce the strengths and capabilities that Hill offers to the Air Force. I am grateful the service continues to recognize the tremendous value that Utah brings to support the Warfighter."

Bennett said: "Today's announcement is well deserved. With access to the Utah Test and Training Range, remarkable existing facilities on-base, and a civilian and military workforce of proven dedication and expertise, Hill is the ideal location to handle the operations of the F-35. The joint strike fighter represents the future of American air power, carrying on a proud tradition that stretches back more than 70 years. The success of the F-35 will be instrumental in our nation's defense and the decision to include Hill indicates the enormous trust our nation's leaders have in its ability to meet the challenge. I am confident that the Air Force's trust in Hill is well-placed. Hill Air Force Base and the proud Utahns who work there are prepared to provide superior support for the F-35 and our future warfighters."
 
Bishop said:  "Today's announcement validates the concerted efforts of the Utah Delegation over the past several years in passing the Utah Test Range Protection Act in 2005, which virtually assures the military's unrestricted use and access of one of the largest overland ranges in the nation.  Hill ranked very highly primarily due to its proximity to the incomparable UTTR.  Survival and protection of the UTTR has always been vital to keeping and attracting future missions for Hill, and today's preliminary decision only highlights that fact."  
 
Matheson said: "As a member of the Utah Congressional delegation, securing Hill's future continues to be a top priority for me.  This is a promising development and I will continue to back this effort."
 
Chaffetz said: "We're pleased that the Air Force recognizes what Utahns have long known - that Hill is a top-notch facility, run by world-class servicemen and women, and supported by a community of true American patriots.  Hill is vital to Utah's well-being, and does credit to us all.  I'm grateful for the excellent work my colleagues in the delegation and so many others have done to bring Hill to this point.  We look forward to the final decisions that will bring the F-35 home to Utah."
Hill was chosen to receive the F-35 along with Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho and Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina. The three bases were selected from a list of 204 across the nation to receive the Joint Strike Fighter.  Air National Guard bases in Burlington, Ver., and Jacksonville, Fla., will also receive the aircraft. Before the Air Force's selection for the F-35 is final, each base must pass an environmental impact test.

The F-35A is a stealth fighter and a replacement for the Air Force's F-16 and A-10 fighter/strike aircraft. The Air Force intends to purchase more than 1,700 Joint Strike Fighters.