Today, the decision on where to base the F-35 was made official.
Eielson Air Force Base has been picked for the Air Force’s first operational overseas F-35A Lightning IIs.
The Air Force in an announcement says two F-35 squadrons are expected to be assigned to the base 26 miles south of Fairbanks.
Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James says in a statement that Alaska combines a strategically important location with a world-class training environment.
She says basing the F-35s at Eielson will allow the Air Force the capability of using the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex for large force exercises.
Eielson already has an F-16 Fighting Falcon aggressor squadron.
The F-35s are expected to arrive in 2020.
Construction on base to prepare for the aircraft is expected to start in fiscal year 2017.