Tag: FMS

Polish F-35 jets expected to soon arrive in Fort Smith

The first two F-35 fighter jets built for Poland will soon roll off the Lockheed production line in Fort Worth, Texas, and Col. Nicholas Ihde is ready to fly one…

Fort Smith mayor appointed to Air Force Civic Leader program

Fort Smith Mayor George McGill has been appointed to the first class of the U.S. Air Force Air Education and Training Command (AETC) Civic Leader Program. He will represent Ebbing…

Attorney General investigating Fort Smith company for potential China connections

An investigation is underway on 4811 S. Zero Street LLC, in Fort Smith, a company state officials suspect has connections to Chinese foreign nationals who may want to be near…

‘Bedrock’ units to train F-35 pilots in Fort Smith are activated

Military units activated during World War II to train pilots for operations in Africa and the Aleutian Islands in what was then the U.S. Territory of Alaska were reactivated Tuesday…

Fort Smith Board again tables military overlay district; attorney notes ‘due process’ concerns

A Fort Smith attorney suggests that a legal battle could result if the city continues down the path of adopting a military overlay district without addressing “due process” and property…

U.S. House bill includes $70 million for pilot training center in Fort Smith

Funding efforts for the next U.S. fiscal year are already underway. At least $70 million could be used to build an academic training base at Ebbing Air National Guard Base…

Fort Smith Planning Commission rejects military overlay district ordinance

The Fort Smith Planning Commission voted four to three against unified development ordinance (UDO) amendments that would create a Military Compatibility Area Overlay District some city officials have said are…

Funding, construction pace at foreign pilot training center in Fort Smith ‘real unusual’

Richard Deaner said the planned pace of work at the Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith is “real unusual in today’s environment,” but is needed to ensure the…

Number of foreign military jets at Fort Smith could rise; basing cost up to $850 million

The foreign military pilot training center in Fort Smith has yet to become operational or even see its first jet find a home in a hangar, but the number of…

Fort Smith officials hear about noise concerns, new rules related to foreign pilot training center

Some Fort Smith residents – including a former Fort Smith Regional Airport manager – expressed concerns Thursday (April 25) about noise levels in the city when F-35 fighter jets begin…

Fort Smith airport, city officials approve agreement on foreign pilot training center prep

The Fort Smith Airport Commission approved an agreement at a special meeting Wednesday (April 10) with the City of Fort Smith to ensure all the necessary runway projects are completed…

Lockheed Martin plans to open facility in Fort Smith, employ up to 90

Defense industry giant Lockheed Martin is the first known company with plans to locate a facility in Fort Smith to support the foreign pilot training center being established at Ebbing…

Federal budget bill includes $207.9 million for foreign pilot training center in Fort Smith (Updated)

Editor’s note: Story updated to include news of Senate approval of the budget bill. The U.S. House approved Friday (March 22) a federal budget bill that could not only avoid…

$83 million approved for foreign pilot training center in Fort Smith

“Significant” federal funding has been approved for work in the ongoing effort to establish a foreign pilot training center in Fort Smith, but more will be needed for the estimated…

Arkansas proud

Fort Smith and Ebbing Air National Guard Base continue to prepare for the arrival of the Foreign Military Sales Program (FMS) Pilot Training Center, hosting F-16 and F-35 fighter jet…

Costs, supplies uncertain for Fort Smith homebuilders with noise-related moratorium

With fighter jets returning to Fort Smith next year, area home builders know they must be more selective about materials and design to mitigate sound transmission in certain areas of…

‘Arresting system’ work begins at Fort Smith Regional Airport

Having just completed a $17 million runway extension, Fort Smith Regional Airport officials are now working on adding an almost $18 million “arresting system” on the main runway. Both projects…

New housing moratorium extended around Fort Smith Regional Airport

The Fort Smith Board of Directors unanimously approved an ordinance Tuesday (Oct. 24) that will expand a new residential construction moratorium near the Fort Smith Regional Airport for two more…

Sen. Boozman optimistic federal budget drama won’t jeopardize pilot training center

U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., said the inability of Congress to agree on a federal budget could delay some funds for the foreign pilot training center in Fort Smith, but…

‘Woke’ politics could delay money for foreign pilot training center in Fort Smith

If the stars line up in the next few months amid the gravity of “woke” politics, the ongoing effort to create a foreign military pilot training center in Fort Smith…