A new refueling jet may require the Utah Air National Guard to move to Hill Air Force Base, but the state's top soldier on Tuesday told the Utah Legislature that it also needs to consider keeping its airmen next to Salt Lake City International Airport.
"If we do nothing, we will be irrelevant in about 20 years," Maj. Gen. Jeff Burton, the commander of the Utah National Guard, told the Executive Appropriations Committee.
By "we," Burton meant the 151st Air Refueling Wing, which flies the KC-135 to deliver gas to other jets and helicopters in midair. It's a military version of a Boeing 707.
The U.S. Air Force is developing an even larger refueling jet called a KC-46 — a version of a Boeing 767. It may be operational by 2020. If the 151st wants the larger aircraft, it's going to need bigger hangars and other new buildings.
Burton would prefer the new construction happen at Hill. It would give the base one more asset to deter the Pentagon from closing it, Burton said, and put the 151st in closer proximity to the fighter jets and personnel with whom it trains.
But in recent months, the Air Force has not deemed the move a priority, Burton told legislators. So Burton on Tuesday suggested a contingency plan — keep the 151st at Wright Air National Guard Base next to Salt Lake City International.
Either plan would cost $160 million to $250 million, Burton said. If the 151st stays at Wright, the Department of Defense would pay most of those costs. Burton said moving to Hill could be financed by a mix of federal, state and private money, including the selling of some of the real estate at Wright.
The Utah Legislature this year gave the Air National Guard $500,000 to make a plan to move to Hill. Burton said Tuesday he wants to use some of that money to develop the plan to stay put.
Rep. Brad Dee, R-Ogden, told Burton and other committee members that Utah for years has tried to strengthen Hill and be a good partner to it. Burton's idea, Dee said, is "a big change of direction."
The KC-135 will stay in service after the bigger refueling jet arrives, but will eventually be retired, and Burton worries the 151st may not receive the new jets if it isn't ready early. The 151st has an annual fiscal impact of $150 million, Burton said.
Moving to Hill would likely take two years after state and Defense Department approval.
ncarlisle@sltrib.com
Twitter: @natecarlisle
