More Davis-Monthan Power Projection Wing news
Five minute reading about USAF plans with the newly established AFSOC Wings.
At the beginning of August 2023, the Department of the Air Force (DAF) selected Davis-Monthan AFB (AZ) as the preferred location to host a third Air Force Special Operation Command (AFSOC) Power Projection Wing. On 28 April 2023, Scramble Magazine wrote about the planned new Wing at Davis-Monthan.
Besides the 1st Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field (FL) and the 27th Special Operations Wing at Cannon AFB (NM), the USAF will now transform the 492nd Special Operations Wing into a power projection wing with all of AFSOC’s mission capabilities at Davis Monthan. The capabilities will consist of Strike, Mobility, Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR) and Air/Ground Integration.
The above mentioned capabilities will allow the USAF and AFSOC to regionally focus each Power Projection Wing on a geographic area of responsibility (ground/air/sea) commander. The transition and move of units will also allow AFSOC to further diversify its locations to protect against natural disasters by ensuring it can maintain its ability to respond to directed missions on very tight timelines. The additional location at Davis-Monthan also permit AFSOC to take advantage of Arizona's Barry M. Goldwater Range. The range will provide additional training opportunities.
While more squadrons and aircraft will move to Davis-Monthan, the already based 47th Fighter Squadron "Dogpatchers" (24 DP coded A-10Cs), the 354th Fighter Squadron "Bulldogs" (26 DM coded A-10Cs) and the 357th Fighter Squadron "Dragons" (28 DM coded A-10Cs) will inactivate in due time and their respective Thunderbolt IIs will be retired. Eventually, the 47th FS and 357th FS will continue A-10 formal training until inactivation. Also, and indirect related, the 34th Weapons Squadron and the 88th Test and Evaluation Squadron will relocate from Nellis AFB (NV) to Davis-Monthan, transferring five HH-60W Jolly Green IIs.
While the new wing at Davis-Monthan requires several relocations, it is planned to take some five years. Although it is expected that there will not be any difficulties, the final decision will be made following completion of the environmental impact analysis process at Davis-Monthan and Arizona as a whole.
Credit photos: USAF and Andrew Kelly (Aviation Photography)