Navy getting close to F-35 decision

The Navy may be getting close to releasing its draft study on basing options for the new Marine Corps F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

Public meetings to be held on the report have initially been scheduled for June 15, 16 and 17 in the area. The meetings are supposed to be scheduled within a 45-day window on the release of the study, which is supposed to make recommendations concerning the basing of 13 squadrons of the newest Marine Corps jet.

Cherry Point could get as many as 11 or as few as two squadrons of the jets among the options the study will consider. The other squadrons would be located in Beaufort, S.C.

The first public meeting on the study in the area has been tentatively scheduled for June 15 at the Havelock Tourist and Event Center. Meetings would follow June 16 in Emerald Isle and June 17 in Bayboro.

Skip Conklin, director of facilities at Cherry Point, confirmed that "there are some plans being made. I know there is movement to have the hearings."

The meetings are still tentative and will be confirmed when the Navy releases its study, which is expected sometime this month.

The F-35 is scheduled to replace the Marine Corps arsenal of AV-8B Harriers, EA-6B Prowlers and F-18 Hornets.

Officials and proponents of Cherry Point believe getting as many squadrons as possible of the new jets at the base is key to the assuring its future. A recent study completed for the N.C. Eastern Region listed the annual economic impact of each squadron on the area at $30 million to $35 million.

After the public comment period on the draft study closes, the Navy will produce a final study that is expected to be released sometime in the fall. The Navy is expected to make a final basing decision in December.

Initially, the first planes were expected to arrive possibly as early as 2013. However, the N.C. Eastern Region study indicates the first squadrons may not arrive until 2016 at the earliest with cost overruns and delays with the program.

Initial costs estimated per jet have risen from $60 million to as high as $135 million, according to reports.