CNN
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The state of Maryland is set to gain control of the Capital’s Air National Guard fighter squadron as part of a major deal that will see the nation’s capital take control of the RFK Stadium site.
The Air Force has approved the transfer of the 121st Fighter Squadron from Washington, D.C., to the Maryland Air National Guard, according to spokeswoman Anne Stefanik. Maryland currently operates A-10 attack aircraft, but those aircraft are scheduled to be retired from the Air Force next year, according to the governor’s office.
The new development means the Maryland Air National Guard will soon be flying F-16 fighter jets, a more advanced aircraft that serves as one of the mainstays of the Air Force’s fleet. The D.C. Air National Guard also defends the National Capital Region, which is one of the most sensitive airspaces in the country. The fighter wing has a 24-hour alert force as part of its mission. By contrast, the Maryland Air National Guard’s older A-10s were primarily used in an offshore strike role when deployed.
The Maryland unit was supposed to transition to a cyber role, but transferring control of the fighter squadron will maintain the unit’s aviation mission.
“The men and women of the Maryland Air National Guard are some of the best and most experienced aviators in the world. In partnership with our congressional delegation and federal partners, we have strongly advocated for the preservation of Maryland’s aviation mission, both in the interest of national security and to continue Maryland’s proud tradition of defending our country,” a joint statement with state senators said Monday.
The fighter squadron’s relocation was an important part of a complex deal that would allow Washington, D.C., to seize the land surrounding RFK Stadium, potentially bringing the NFL back to the nation’s capital, while also providing funding for Maryland to rebuild Francis. Scott Key Bridge.
The deal was in danger of collapsing last week when a provision to move the stadium land to the capital was stripped from a government funding package after opposition from President-elect Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk.
But in a surprise move early Saturday morning, the Senate unanimously approved a bill giving D.C. control of the land. The Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Campus Revitalization Act now awaits President Joe Biden’s signature after passing the House of Representatives earlier this year.
The Washington Commanders football team has played at Northwest Stadium, formerly known as FedEx Field, in Landover, Maryland, since 1997. The franchise previously played at RFK Stadium from 1961 through 1996.
Maryland Air National Guard Brig. Gen. Drew Dougherty called the deal a “historic moment” for the unit.
“Over the past few years, we have been resolute in our commitment to securing a future aviation mission. This transition is the first step in offering a path through which we can retain our highly experienced pilots and maintainers, positions that are critically staffed across the globe,” Dougherty said in a statement. Total force, keeping Maryland at the forefront of cyber operations.”
Stefanik said details about the timeline and the fighters’ move from D.C. to Maryland “will be announced at a later date.”
