{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.peters.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/video-peters-calls-for-continued-investment-in-selfridge-to-prepare-for-f-15ex-and-kc-46-missions-at-hearing-with-air-force-nominee", "VIDEO: Peters Calls for Continued Investment in Selfridge to Prepare for F-15EX and KC-46 Missions at Hearing with Air Force Nominee", "2025-10-10", "2025", "2025-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "MI", "Gary C. Peters", "P000595", "www.peters.senate.gov", "garypeters", "https://www.peters.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 During an Armed Service Committee hearing with General Kenneth S. Wilsbach, nominee for Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) called for continued investment in both infrastructure and personnel at Selfridge Air National Base as it prepares to welcome its new F-15EX and KC-46 missions.\n\n\u201cAs you know, recapitalizing military aircraft is vital to staying ready for the future fight,\u201d said Senator Peters. \u201cBut as you also know, new platforms require modern training for pilots, maintainers, and communication personnel to be able to operate effectively. Investing in the people who operate, fix, and support these systems is just as critical as actually getting the airframes. And without updated facilities, like hangars, flight lines, and airstrips, it\u2019s very difficult to accomplish that.\u201d\n\nPeters continued, \u201cAs Selfridge Air National Guard Base prepares for the divestment of our current aircraft and the arrival of our new KC-46... and F-15EX fighters, can you speak to how the DOD is prioritizing preparing the personnel at Selfridge, specifically, to include pilots, maintainers, and support folks for this transition?\u201d\n\n\u201cLike I mentioned before, it\u2019s going to be exciting for Selfridge to have maybe one of the most modern Air National Guard bases in the country,\u201d General Wilsbach responded. \u201cThe infrastructure to accommodate that, to do all the things you just talked about, maintenance, simulator training, making sure that the taxiways, runways, and hangars is in good shape to accommodate what\u2019s coming in... The simulators as well as [maintainers] will be trained, likely before they get there, but also once they get there.\u201d\n\nTo watch the full video of Senator Peters\u2019 questioning, click here.\n\nPeters also underscored his support for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program and pushed for the Air Force to field these next-generation aircraft at Air National Guard bases like Selfridge. CCAs are unmanned aircraft that will work in tandem with manned fighter jets, including the F-15EXs, to the increase the effectiveness and decrease the risk of fighter missions.\n\n\u201cI have received several classified briefings about the Air Forces\u2019 Collaborative Combat Aircraft program and understand the critical importance of how CCAs will transform air dominance,\u201d said Senator Peters. \u201cBut as this program continues to develop, I remain hopeful that this cutting-edge technology will also be concurrently fielded in the Air National Guard.\u201d\n\nPeters has pushed for and secured language to support the development and integration of CCAs, including during ahearing last year with the former Secretary of Defense and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Peters has also secured language to help position Selfridge Air National Guard Base as a potential location for testing CCAs. He led a provision included in recent government funding legislationrequiring a report regarding basing criteria of CCAs. This report will include an evaluation of whether existing Air National Guard bases with legacy fighter missions, such as Selfridge, may be appropriate locations for the basing of CCAs.\n\nIn April, Peters welcomed the announcement that Selfridge Air National Base would receive 21 new F-15EX fighter jets. This announcement followed years of advocacy and efforts by Peters to secure a new fighter mission for Selfridge and protect the future of the base.\n\nPeters, who served in the U.S. Navy Reserve and drilled at Selfridge for more than a decade, has made supporting the future of the base a top priority. Following the announcement in April, Peters also secured a commitment from Air Force Secretary Troy E. Meink that future Air Force funding will be used to support the recapitalization of Selfridge\u2019s retiring A-10 mission with the 21 new F-15EX fighter jets. Peters has also fought to include funding for improvements to Selfridge in this year\u2019s National Defense Authorization Act. This funding will help the base prepare for the new F-15EX mission.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.peters.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/video-peters-calls-for-continued-investment-in-selfridge-to-prepare-for-f-15ex-and-kc-46-missions-at-hearing-with-air-force-nominee"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.7499014027416706, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}