Florida Lawmakers Demand F-35 Jets at Homestead for National Security

Homestead Air Reserve Base, Florida, USA - Florida lawmakers are pushing hard for the deployment of F-35A Lightning II fighter jets to the Homestead Air Reserve Base (HARB). A bipartisan group, including Senator Rick Scott and co-signers like Senator Ashley Moody and Congressmen Mario Díaz-Balart, Gus Bilirakis, and others, sent a letter to President Donald Trump on June 6, 2025, advocating for this significant military upgrade. The letter emphasizes HARB’s importance in national security, especially in countering threats from various nations and organizations operating in the Western Hemisphere, as reported by TampaFP.

HARB plays a critical role in interdicting narcotics and human trafficking while supporting U.S. Southern Command and Special Operations Command South. The legislators point out Florida’s unique geographic position, crucial for battling the influences of China, Russia, violent extremist organizations, and transnational criminal entities. Highlighting recent successes, the region was designated as the “High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area of the Year” in 2023, disrupting over 54 drug trafficking organizations and seizing an impressive $748 million worth of illicit drugs.

Strategic Importance

The threats are real. With a Russian Surface Action Group operating near the Florida Keys, the urgency for increased military preparedness is palpable. HARB contributed $364 million to the local economy in 2023 and houses the 482nd Fighter Wing and the 367th Fighter Squadron. The base also is home to the Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Branch and Special Operations Command South Headquarters, underscoring its strategic significance, as noted by the legislators.

In the push for F-35 deployment, the presence of the 125th Fighter Wing Air National Guard — which is set to receive F-35A aircraft with initial arrivals in Jacksonville in March and a detachment planned for HARB in 2027 — further solidifies this argument. Incorporating a common fighter platform at HARB is seen as an effective way to reduce costs and enhance readiness for NORAD alert missions and global deployments.

Future Planning

The competition for F-35A basing is heating up, as the Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) reassesses Homestead, along with Whiteman Air Force Base, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, and NAS Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth in Texas, which is currently designated as the primary home for the future F-35As. Lt. Gen. Richard Scobee mentioned that a „more robust study“ will guide the decision-making process for Fort Worth while reopening discussions about the suitability of other bases like Homestead. As reported by Air & Space Forces, public hearings will take place in March to gather community input regarding these bases.

The presence of existing A-10 operations at Whiteman and Davis-Monthan creates noise pollution concerns, which could influence the final decisions on F-35 basing locations. However, it is important to note that Fort Worth, already accommodating F-16s, requires minimal military construction and has secure funding unrelated to border-wall discussions.

Florida’s leaders are enthusiastic about the role Homestead may play in future military strategies, urging the Trump administration to maintain steady production quantities of F-35A while ensuring their deployment to HARB. With threats looming large on the horizon, having advanced aircraft stationed in Florida could very well be a game-changer in national security efforts.