“Very soon we will replace the A-10 with 21 new F-15EX Eagle II fighter jets, the best in world,” President Trump announced during visit to Selfridge ANGB in Michigan.
U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Mt. Clemens, Michigan, will be home to a new Boeing F-15EX Eagle II unit. The announcement was made during a visit by the U.S. President to Selfridge ANGB today, April 29, 2025.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) welcomes Pres. Trump to Michigan. Also greeting at Selfridge Air National Guard Base: Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall and Republican Senate Leader Aric Nesbitt. pic.twitter.com/whARBneEma
— Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) April 29, 2025
The President told assembled media and dignitaries that, “Very soon we will replace the A-10 with 21 new F-15EX Eagle II fighter jets, the best in world”.
💪🇺🇸 President Trump, at Selfridge Air National Guard base in Michigan:
“I am proud to announce that very soon we will replace the retiring A-10 Warthogs with 21 brand new F-15EX Eagle II fighter jets.” pic.twitter.com/Pi5vJtCP1a
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) April 29, 2025
During his remarks at Selfridge ANGB, President Trump was flanked by a static display of two A-10C Thunderbolt II aircraft currently operating from the base. The aircraft had special markings including the numbers, “45” and “47” denoting the President’s two terms and the President’s name under the cockpits.
The visit also coincides with the President’s 100th day in office during his second term.
Selfridge ANGB is already slated to receive twelve new Boeing KC-46 Pegasus aerial refueling and multirole transport aircraft to replace its existing squadron of aging KC-135 Stratotankers. The KC-46s are expected to begin arriving at Selfridge as early as 2029 according to the Secretary of Air Force Public Affairs. The base has also recently begun construction on a new hangar facility with additional new buildings planned to support future missions.
The President’s announcement ends some speculation about the future of Selfridge Air National Guard Base, located on Lake St. Clair, north of Detroit, Michigan.
Selfridge ANGB currently houses one KC-135 Squadron, the 127th Air Refueling Group (127th ARG) along with the A-10C Thunderbolt II squadron, the 107th Fighter Squadron. The large base is also home to active, reserve and National Guard/Air National Guard units of every U.S. service including the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.
The base also houses the Selfridge Military Air Museum, an aviation, history, education and technology facility with a display of 33 historical and operational aircraft, indoor museum, and several buildings devoted to active historical vehicle and aircraft restoration.
The new Boeing F-15EX Eagle II is a completely new version of the existing two-seat F-15 Eagle that first flew in 1972. This new version of the F-15, is intended for the highly-networked air combat environment, with enhanced weapons carriage, communications and information sharing systems that make the F-15EX a force-multiplier on the integrated battlefield.
The F-15EX Eagle II retains precision ground attack and close air support capabilities but expands its role with extensive air-to-air and air defense suppression capabilities in a networked combat environment with existing fifth generation aircraft such as the F-35 Lightning II and the F-22 Raptor. The F-15EX Eagle II is also intended to operate in a networked environment with the Air Force’s new NGAD or Next Generation Air Dominance program. This includes the recently announced Boeing F-47 advanced sixth generation aircraft. While recent reports suggest the Boeing F-15EX will replace the F-22s, it is more likely that the primary F-15EX mission, at least early-on, will be to integrate with and compliment the capabilities of the existing fifth generation aircraft.
The Boeing F-15EX Eagle II first flew on February 20, 2013. So far, eight F-15EX Eagle II aircraft have been produced with a total of 128 other advanced versions of the F-15 already built.
“Well, I hadn’t planned to speak, but on behalf of all the military men and women who serve our country and serve so honorably on behalf of the state of Michigan, I am really damn happy we’re here to celebrate this recapitalization at Selfridge”
– Gov Gretchen Whitmer with Trump pic.twitter.com/OfPRNDYYzi
— Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) April 29, 2025
Selfridge ANGB’s A-10 Warthogs
Selfridge Air National Guard Base’s current tactical aircraft assigned to the 107th Fighter Squadron is the Republic A-10C Thunderbolt II. The A-10 Thunderbolt II first flew 52 years ago in 1972 and entered active service five years later in 1977. The A-10 is a purpose-built ground attack, close air support and search and rescue support aircraft. It was originally intended to offset the “armor gap” discrepancy in the number of armored vehicles between NATO and the now-defunct Warsaw Pact. The aircraft has been repurposed in several roles including the “SANDY” mission in support of search and rescue operations.
The two major operational aircraft currently at Selfridge ANGB, the A-10 Thunderbolt II and the KC-135 Stratotanker, are both reaching the end of their operational life cycle, with 56 A-10s slated for retirement in 2025.
