President Donald Trump says the Air National Guard base in Michigan will play a ‘vital role’ in U.S. national defense.
President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that the Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Michigan will receive 21 new F-15EX Eagle II fighter jets as replacements for 21 retiring A-10 Warthog aircraft.
Trump was visiting Michigan to celebrate the first 100 days of his second term in office.
“As commander-in-chief, I’m proud to announce that very soon, we will replace the retiring A-10 Warthogs with 21 brand new F-15EX Eagle II fighter jets,” he added. “The best in the world.”
According to Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s office, the F-15EX fighter jets are expected to begin arriving at Selfridge in fiscal year 2028, in addition to the incoming KC-46A tankers secured last year.
The Selfridge base contributes an estimated $850 million to Michigan’s economy and supports 30,000 jobs in the state. It hosts units from every branch of the U.S. Armed Service, except the Space Force, as well as being a home to homeland security operations, the governor’s office stated.
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Macomb County executive Mark Hackel thanked Trump and said that bringing the F-15EX fighter jets to Selfridge will solidify the base as “Michigan’s premier defense installation.”
The aerospace company stated that the aircraft can shoot targets from a “significantly increased” range, “farther than any other fighter in the U.S. Air Force arsenal.”
Trump said that an experimental version of Boeing’s F-47 airframe has been flying in secret for nearly five years and that he is confident the aircraft “massively overpowers the capabilities of any other nation.”
Details about the aircraft design remain secret, and Trump said he would not specify the price for the program because it could give hints about the size of the aircraft and some of the technology it will include.
Ryan Morgan contributed to this report.
