News, Weather and Sports for Sioux City, IA: KCAU-TV.comAir National Guard May Lose Refueling Tanker In Sioux City

Air National Guard May Lose Refueling Tanker In Sioux City

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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) _ The Air Force recommends retiring 21F-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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