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144th Fighter Wing

The 144th Fighter Wing provides support for counter drug enforcement, natural disasters, civil unrest and community assistance in the state of California. Following September 11, 2001, the Wing provided forces for Operation Aerosafe, guarding our local airports.

The 144th Fighter Wing’s primary mission is homeland defense. As one of the first units assigned to this role, the Wing has been providing security for California’s skies for almost 50 years.

With the Unit’s central location, it provides excellent coverage and protection for the entire state's major population centers and critical infrastructures to include Los Angeles and the Bay area.

In light of this, the 144th Fighter Wing has had the highest Noble Eagle tasking in the Air National Guard and the Air Force.

Home < Issues < 144th Fighter Wing

May 19, 2006

Support Securing Homeland Security By Upgrading 144th Fighter Wing Aircraft

The Greater Fresno Area Chamber of Commerce supports upgrading the fighter aircraft assigned to the 144th Fighter Wing of the California Air National Guard and subsequently the future of our main operating base.

Due to the limited Homeland Defense capabilities of the F-16 when compared to the F-15 Eagle, it seems as though the citizens of the Southwestern United States are not being afforded the protection commensurate with the rest of the country. International terrorist organizations continue to target civilian aviation as a means of attacking this country and, according to the 2002 National Intelligence Estimate and the Secretary of Defense, the threat from a sea-borne cruise missile attack will continue to grow. The detection capabilities and larger weapons load make the F-15 Eagle a much better platform to counter these threats.

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Chief of Staff of the Air Force General T. Michael Mosley 1670 Air Force - Pentagon Washington, DC 20330-1670 Secretary of the Air Force The Honorable - Michael W. Wynne 1670 Air Force - Pentagon Washington, DC 20330-1670 California Army and Air National Guard MG William H. Wade II P.O. Box 269101 Sacramento, CA 95821-9101 Dear Gentlemen, I support upgrading the fighter aircraft assigned to the 144th Fighter Wing of the California Air National Guard and subsequently the future of our main operating base. The 144th Fighter Wing is tasked with Homeland Defense for the Southwestern United States, providing air defense for the major population areas of San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego and Las Vegas, Nevada. The 144th Fighter Wing is currently flying the F-16 Fighting Falcon which is scheduled to retire beginning in 2012. With no assigned follow-on airframe, this renders the homeland air defense main operating base vulnerable to closure. Due to the limited Homeland Defense capabilities of the F-16 when compared to the F-15 Eagle, it seems as though the citizens of the Southwestern United States are not being afforded the protection commensurate with the rest of the country. International terrorist organizations continue to target civilian aviation as a means of attacking this country and, according to the 2002 National Intelligence Estimate and the Secretary of Defense, the threat from a sea-borne cruise missile attack will continue to grow. The detection capabilities and larger weapons load make the F-15 Eagle a much better platform to counter these threats.

Contact Amy Huerta, the Chamber's Government Affairs Manager for more information at (559) 495-4818 or ahuerta@fresnochamber.com