The Air Force recommends retiring 21
F-16 fighter jets from an Iowa Air National Guard base in Des
Moines and cutting the number of refueling tankers at a base in
Sioux City.
     Guard spokesman Col. Greg Hapgood says Friday the Air Force has
proposed replacing the F-16s with remotely piloted aircraft at the
132nd Fighter Wing in Des Moines. The Air Force would cut the
number of KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft from nine to eight at the
185th Refueling Wing in Sioux City.
     The proposals are part of a plan to trim $8.7 billion from the
Air Force budget in fiscal 2013.
     Sen. Tom Harkin has requested a meeting with the secretary of
the Air Force about the recommendations. The Iowa Democrat says the
proposal is "not a final decision."
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