Agenda Item Wording:
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Joint letter of support for Naval Air Station Lemoore - Authorize the Mayor to sign a regional joint letter of support for Naval Air Station Lemoore in the proposed action by the U.S. Navy to transition existing FA-18E/F squadrons to F-35C Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter squadrons and home basing new F-35C aircraft at the Navy’s master jet base over an approximate 10-year period.
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Agenda Date: 4/6/2026
Prepared by:
John Lollis, Assistant City Manager, John.Lollis@visalia.gov, (559)713-4323
Department Recommendation:
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the Mayor to sign a regional joint letter of support for Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore in the proposed action by the U.S. Navy to transition existing FA-18E/F squadrons to F-35C Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter squadrons and home basing new F-35C aircraft at the Navy’s master jet base over an approximate 10-year period.
Summary:
Authorize the Mayor to sign a regional joint letter of support for NAS Lemoore in the proposed action by the U.S. Navy to transition existing FA-18E/F squadrons to F-35C Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter squadrons and home basing new F-35C aircraft at the Navy’s master jet base over an approximate 10-year period beginning no earlier than 2028.
Background Discussion:
NAS Lemoore serves as the U.S. Navy’s West Coast hub for the F-35C Lightning II, acting as the “master jet base” for the carrier-variant stealth fighter. In 2014, the Navy announced that NAS Lemoore would be the primary West Coast base for the F-35C due to favorable air space and lower environmental constraints, as well as its ability to support the training of the next-generation fighter that requires high-level maintenance care compared to older jets. The first F-35C fighters arrived at NAS Lemoore in 2017, assigned to the reactivated Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 125 “Rough Raiders,” the West Coast’s Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) for the jet. In 2018, the F-35C FRS became fully operational. In 2021, the station began utilizing the Operational Data Integrated Network (ODIN) to support maintenance for VFA-125. Currently, NAS Lemoore hosts the Commander Joint Strike Fighter Wing (CJSFW) and continues to integrate the F-35C.
To continue the integration of the F-35C fighter, in 2025 the Navy proposed the transition of seven (7) existing FA-18E/F squadrons at one of the Navy’s master jet bases (NAS Lemoore-California or NAS Oceana-Virginia) to F-35C Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) squadrons by home basing seventy (70) new F-35C aircraft (10 aircraft per squadron) over an approximate 10-year period time to begin no earlier than 2028. The proposed action involves personnel changes and expanding, modifying and constructing new facilities and establishing or increasing support functions at one or both Navy master jet bases. The purpose of the proposed transition is to enhance the Navy’s ability to satisfy national defense requirements by replacing the aging FA-18E/F fleet with the state-of-the-art F-35C strike fighter aircraft. It is anticipated that the Navy will announce its preliminary determination this coming Summer, with the final determination to be made by Fall 2027.
The City of Visalia and the broader Central Valley tremendously benefits from the economic impact that NAS Lemoore provides. As one of the largest regional employers, the station contributes significantly to the local economies, generating more than $1 billion in economic impact and supporting thousands of jobs. The decision to home base the new F-35C squadrons at NAS Lemoore would further solidify and expand the positive economic impact the station provides. Further supporting the connection between the city of Visalia and NAS Lemoore is the design and development of the Cross Valley Corridor, utilizing express bus service.
To support the necessary facility improvements associated with the proposed jet fighter transition, NAS Lemoore recently entered into a partnership to build an AI-optimized data center designed to enhance advanced energy resilience and workload requirements. Also, the recent passage of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (FY26 NDAA) included nearly $90 million authorizing two (2) major construction projects to plan and prepare to support the F-35C transition, including $55.542 million for the construction of the Strike Fighter Center of Excellence (cutting-edge training facilities for Navy personnel to safely handle and load ordinance on Strike Fighter aircraft) and funding toward the planning and design for a new F-35 Aircraft Maintenance Hangar to improve operational efficiency and maintenance capacity for the F-35 program.
Fiscal Impact:
The City receives economic benefit from the location and expansion of NAS Lemoore, with many of the station personnel choosing to reside in Visalia and surrounding area.
Prior Council Action:
None
Alternatives: Not authorize to join a regional joint letter of support.
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
I move to authorize the Mayor to sign a regional joint letter of support for NAS Lemoore.
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Environmental Assessment Status: N/A
CEQA Review: N/A
Deadline for Action: 4/6/2026
Attachments:
1. Draft joint letter of support
2. U.S. Navy project overview fact sheet
Strategic Goal:
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☒ Economic Vitality |
☐  Organizational Excellence |
☐ Fiscal Strength |
☒  Infrastructure & Growth |
☐  Quality of Life |