The Department of the Air Force has selected Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona as the preferred location for the Special Operations Command’s third power projection wing. Over the next five years, several relocations from other bases are planned, pending an environmental impact analysis.
Key Points:
- The planned transition involves several squadron relocations, including the 492nd Special Operations Wing (SOW) moving from Hurlburt Field, Florida to Davis-Monthan, and an MC-130J Commando II squadron moving from Cannon AFB to Davis-Monthan.
- The U-28 Draco fleets at Cannon AFB, New Mexico, and Hurlburt Field will be replaced by the OA-1K Armed Overwatch aircraft. One OA-1K Armed Overwatch squadron will also relocate from Hurlburt Field to Davis-Monthan as part of the 492nd SOW’s transition.
- The 21st Special Tactics Squadron and the 22nd Special Tactics Squadron will relocate from Pope Army Airfield, North Carolina, and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, to Davis-Monthan respectively.
- At Davis-Monthan, three A-10 equipped fighter squadrons – the 47th, the 354th, and the 357th – will inactivate, and their respective A-10s will be retired. However, the 47th FS and 357th FS will continue A-10 formal training until inactivation.
