Oregon — Congressman Cliff Bentz announced that the President’s proposed 2027 budget includes $80 million to construct a new F-35 training center at Kingsley Field, a move that significantly expands the base’s role in U.S. military operations.
The funding will support development of a Formal Training Unit Academic Training Center, designed to prepare pilots for the F-35A Lightning II, one of the most advanced fighter jets in the world. The facility will anchor Kingsley Field’s transition from the aging F-15C platform to the next-generation aircraft.
Bentz said the investment reflects both the base’s longstanding importance and its future strategic role. “Kingsley Field has long been one of the most important cornerstones of our nation’s air defense,” Bentz said. “This investment ensures it will continue training the best fighter pilots in the world.”
The F-35 represents a major shift in aerial combat, integrating stealth, advanced sensors, and real-time data processing. Training pilots to operate the aircraft requires more than traditional flight instruction, emphasizing complex systems, information management, and coordinated combat strategy.
The new academic center is expected to serve as the intellectual hub of that training, preparing pilots to operate within a modern, networked battlespace.
Beyond national defense, the project is likely to have significant economic implications for southern Oregon. Large-scale federal investments typically bring construction activity, contractor demand, and long-term operational jobs. However, such growth can also deepen local reliance on federal defense spending and decisions made at the national level.
The inclusion of the $80 million line item signals a clear federal commitment to maintaining and expanding Kingsley Field’s role in the nation’s evolving military strategy, positioning the Klamath Falls installation as a key node in next-generation pilot training.
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