SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – Business and military leaders in Sioux Falls are making a concerted push to bring the next generation of fighter aircraft to Joe Foss Field.
The South Dakota Air National Guard’s 114th Fighter Wing is actively competing to host the F-35 Lightning II program, which would eventually replace its current fleet of aging F-16s.
Advocates say securing the mission would deliver far more than upgraded aircraft—it would spur significant long-term investment and economic growth across the region. Leaders point to West River, where Ellsworth Air Force Base has spurred an estimated $2 billion in public and private infrastructure investments to prepare for the incoming B-21 Raider stealth bomber…