Costa calls for New, Advanced Aircraft for 144th Fighter Wing

WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Jim Costa co-led a letter to the U.S. Secretary of the Air Force requesting that the 144th Fighter Wing of California Air National Guard receive new F-35 or F-15EX fighter aircraft, as the current F-15C is near its end of service. This will help ensure the 144th Fighter Wing can continue executing its mission with the best available technology.

"Given the essential mission of the 144th Fighter Wing—which aligns with the top priority in the National Defense Strategy of defending the homeland and deterring China—we believe it is imperative to provide it with the most advanced aircraft available. Providing the F- 35 or F-15EX aircraft would help ensure the 144th Fighter Wing is able to continue executing its mission without interruption," the lawmakers wrote. 

Costa co-led the letter with Senator Dianne Feinstein,  Senator Alex Padilla, and Congressman David Valadao (CA-21). They were joined by Doug LaMalfa (CA-01), John Garamendi (CA-03), Tom McClintock (CA-04), Mike Thompson (CA-05), Zoe Lofgren (CA-19), Jimmy Panetta (CA-20), Connie Conway (CA-22), House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (CA-23), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Karen Bass (CA-37), Ken Calvert (CA-42), and Juan Vargas (CA-51). 

A full copy of the letter is available here.