By The Associated Press
Glendale officials say the Department of Defense has chosen Luke Air Force Base for the new training center for F-35 fighter jets.
Representatives with Luke's 56th Fighter Wing scheduled a news conference Wednesday afternoon to talk about the Air Force's decision.
The 71-year-old base in west Glendale was competing with Tucson's Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and bases in New Mexico and Idaho for the F-35 mission.
Officials say the Air Force will station 72 F-35s for the training of both U.S. and foreign pilots.
Luke has long been the training ground for F-16 pilots. The F-35 is intended to eventually replace the aging F-16.
Glendale officials say Luke could receive up to $125 million in federal funds for construction-related projects and the F-35s could arrive as early as next year.
In Tucson, the prospect of the F-35 was controversial because the jets are said to be much louder than the F-16s currently flown over Tucson by the Air National Guard and the A-10s flown by Davis-Monthan pilots.
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