An Oct. 1 letter signed by Rep. Don Young and Sens. Mark Begich and Lisa Murkowski -- and sent to Air Force Secretary Michael Donley -- describes Eielson as "the perfect base geographically" because of the large amount of available airspace. It notes the strategic importance of Alaska in facing potential threats from China, Russia and North Korea.
"Alaska is on the front lines when it comes to adversarial countries like North Korea and should be at the forefront of defense technology," Young said in a statement. "Eielson is the best place for the F-35s, and I hope that the Department of Defense can recognize that."
The single-seat F-35, built by Lockheed Martin, will be used by several U.S. military services in a variety of missions, including air-to-air combat and ground attacks.
The Air Force has said it will evaluate more than 200 sites for their suitability to base F-35s under criteria that include airspace, flight training ranges, weather, support facilities, runways, environmental concerns and costs.
An announcement narrowing the list to six prospects is expected soon, and members of Congress with military bases in their districts have been lobbying Air Force officials to bring the stealth-capable F-35 to their states.
Jim Dodson, CEO of the Fairbanks Economic Development Corp., said Eielson's bid could be hurt by Begich's defeat of Sen. Ted Stevens, whose seniority made him the top Republican on the Senate Appropriations Committee's defense panel.
"It is a huge liability," Dodson said.
Dodson said even if Eielson doesn't receive an F-35 wing in 2012, when the planes are introduced, they could come to Alaska a few years later.
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