HAMPTON—Governor Ralph Northam recently welcomed the decision by the United States Air Force to permanently locate the F-22 Raptor formal training unit (FTU) at Join Base Langley-Eustis. In 2019, Governor Northam joined Virginia’s bi-partisan congressional delegation and General Assembly members in urging the Air Force to select Join Base Langley-Eustis as the new home for the F-22 FTU after it was displaced from Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida due to Hurricane Michael.
“We are thrilled to welcome the F-22 formal training unit to our commonwealth,” said Governor Northam after the decision was announced. “Home to a significant number of military installations with critical national security missions and operations, there is no place that welcomes service members more warmly than the Hampton Roads region. Langley-Eustis is the right choice, with the ideal environment to achieve the maintenance and supply efficiencies that are critical to successful F-22 squadron training. This move is good for the Air Force and the Langley-Eustis community, and demonstrates that Virginia is best suited to host this mission and the next generation of air dominance fighter aircraft.”
The rebasing of the F-22 FTU will include the relocation of more than 31 F-22s and 16 other aircraft, along with an estimated 700 skilled military and civilian personnel and contractors, and approximately 1,600 dependents. The personnel will settle in communities near Joint Base Langley-Eustis to support the unit’s training mission and operations.
“Consolidating the F-22 FTU at Langley-Eustis is the sensible move, and will allow the Air Force greater opportunities while ensuring that investments in Langley-Eustis and its infrastructure get the use for which they were intended,” said Senator Mamie Locke. “This is important for our region and for the entire Langley-Eustis community.”