Issue Position: Ellsworth Air Force Base

Issue Position

Issue Position: Ellsworth Air Force Base

Ellsworth Air Force Base
Ellsworth Air Force Base plays a critically important role in the defense of our nation. Ellsworth is home to roughly half of our nation's B-1 bombers, which account for a significant portion of our nation's strategic long-range military capability. The B-1 is a key weapon in our nation's current conflicts, with its crews flying close-air support missions on a daily basis for our troops in contact with the enemy on the ground in Afghanistan. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I was proud to play a central role in saving Ellsworth in 2005 when the Pentagon recommended to the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission that it be closed. Ellsworth directly employs many South Dakotans and sustains numerous other businesses in the Black Hills region that provide critical services to the base.

In 2006, I helped secure a new mission for Ellsworth by bringing in the Air Force Financial Services Center, which will ultimately bring hundreds of jobs to South Dakota over the next few years. More recently, I have worked with the Air Force on its planned expansion of the Powder River Training Complex, which will help to attract new missions, allow the Air Force to save on its extremely large fuel costs, and further solidify Ellsworth's reputation as an outstanding military installation.

Additionally, I strongly support development of the Next Generation Bomber, which could eventually replace or supplement our aging bomber fleet. The Air Force has previously indicated that Ellsworth is a potential candidate for bed-down of the Next Generation Bomber when it reaches initial operational capability in 2018. Unfortunately, the Obama Administration is working to terminate the Next Generation Bomber even though nearly half of our bomber inventory pre-dates the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. Furthermore, while our current wars are being fought in undefended airspace, the conflicts of the near-term future will likely feature heavily defended airspace, due in large part to the proliferation of relatively inexpensive, but extremely sophisticated and deadly air defense systems. With only 16 combat ready B-2 bombers currently available to penetrate these sophisticated defense systems, it is clear that a new bomber must be developed simply to ensure that there are enough radar evading bombers available to deter, or, if necessary, engage in future conflicts. I oppose the Obama Administration's efforts to terminate the Next Generation Bomber, because termination of the Next Generation Bomber would do tremendous damage to our nation's future ability to project power on a global scale. I am dedicated to ensuring the vitality and continued growth of Ellsworth as one of the nation's premier Air Force bases. Ellsworth is both good for South Dakota and good for our nation's security.

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