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Senior U.S. Air Force leaders visited Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith on March 8-9 to receive briefings on pilot training operations. The base was designated in March 2023 as the long-term Foreign Military Sales (FMS) pilot training center for F-35 fighter planes purchased by Singapore, Switzerland, Poland, Germany, and Finland.

The center's estimated total cost is between $850 million and $1.2 billion. General Ken Wilsbach and Chief Master Sergeant David Wolfe met with community officials to discuss local involvement. The 85th Fighter Group and 57th Fighter Squadron at Ebbing provide training for F-35 pilots.