The Pentagon is reportedly close to making a decision on changing the face of the Iowa Air National Guard. Iowa Congressman Tom Latham met with Guard officials in Washington D-C today to discuss moving the Sioux City-based fighter wing to Des Moines, while bringing tanker jets to Sioux City. Latham says the move to KC-135 tankers in Sioux City could mean a 70- to 80-million dollar federal investment in new hangars, underground fuel storage and other requirements. The KC-135 is an equivalent aircraft to the commercial Boeing 707. Latham, a republican from Alexander, says the current F-16 jet fighter wing in Sioux City would be “merged” with the Des Moines wing, but he says the viability of those planes is in question. He says the fighters likely have only five or six years left in them, while the tankers will be around for a long time.An Iowa National Guard spokesman says there is still no official decision on the proposed moves. Colonel Robert King says word may come by month’s end.
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