Overview
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Mountain Home Air Force Base will host Qatari F-15s and pilots to strengthen combined training and interoperability.
- Air Force officials said the arrangement has been in development for years, with a 2017 congressional notification and a 2022 environmental assessment for the Idaho base.
- The facility will be hosted on a U.S. base rather than a standalone foreign installation, following precedents where partners fund facilities the U.S. builds and secures.
- Mountain Home’s mayor and base leaders voiced support during a local briefing, highlighting expected economic benefits and community exchange.
- Key operational details remain unsettled, with local reporting citing about 12 jets and personnel potentially arriving by 2030 under a 10-year commitment as lawmakers seek transparency and safeguards.