Macomb officials hope to land fighter plane

Macomb County officials on Tuesday launched a major campaign to bring the F-35 Lightning II, a fifth-generation fighter, to Selfridge Air National Guard Base.

The county, in partnership with Selfridge, has launched a website, MIF35.org, to highlight the benefits of basing the aircraft at the Macomb County base. The advantages include the base’s strategic location along an international border and Michigan’s network of military and National Guard resources.

“This digital platform will be the sounding board for the community engagement and outreach associated with landing the F-35 at Selfridge,” Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel said. “Over the next six months, the county will be working hand in hand with the State of Michigan, the Michigan Defense Center, our congressional delegation, local legislators and defense partners in, and around, southeast Michigan to showcase Selfridge.”

Hackel was joined by Selfridge Base Commander Brig. Gen. John D. Slocum and Dr. Keith DeFever, president of the Selfridge base Community Council, at Zuccaro’s Banquet Center to discuss the campaign.

The F-35 Lightning II is a single-seat, single-engine fighter aircraft designed to perform ground attack and air defense missions.