According to the Clovis News Journal, only one entity has put in a bid to house operations at Cannon AFB, N.M., and that is Air Force Special Operations Command. The Air Force mounted a PR blitz to show off the base, which must find a new mission by 2010 or face closure, to DOD and other government agencies. Neighboring Arizonans even sought to shift some of their unwanted military aircraft operations to Cannon.
The new defense reconciliation bill includes $7.2 billion for Air Force and Navy aviation accounts, almost half of which will buy more F-15EXs. While electronic warfare, drones, connectivity and airlift all get attention, the F-35 was conspicuously absent from the package, with no explanation given.