Congressman Moore Secures $6.5 Million for Hill Air Force Base in Fiscal Year 2027 Appropriations

Congressman Moore Secures $6.5 Million for Hill Air Force Base in Fiscal Year 2027 Appropriations

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Last week, the House passed the Fiscal Year 2027 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. Included in the bill is $6.5 million secured by Congressman Moore in community project funding for the planning and design of a dedicated F-35 Canopy Maintenance Facility at Hill Air Force Base.

This new facility will serve as the Air Force's sole depot-level source of repair for F-35 canopies, a critical component of fifth-generation aircraft maintenance. The existing temporary facilities are inadequate to meet the increasing production rates and depot workloads associated with the growing global F-35 fleet. As canopy repair work transitions from manufacturers to the Ogden Air Logistics Complex at Hill, this new facility is urgently needed to prevent costly outsourcing, avoid maintenance delays, and sustain aircraft availability for both U.S. and allied forces. Congressman Moore's work to secure community project funding will accelerate this facility's timeline and ensure U.S. air power maintains readiness for the future.

Background:

• The United States Air Force has selected the Ogden Air Logistics Complex at Hill Air Force Base as the sole Depot Source of Repair for canopy repair work for all F-35 aircraft in the Air Force inventory. Additionally, the facility will support F-35 canopies for the Navy, Marines, and several allied nations.
• Currently, F-35 canopy repair work is being conducted in Buildings 271 and 850 at Hill Air Force Base, which supports a low initial production rate of six assemblies per month. This rate is acceptable at present, but as the Air Force continues to acquire more F-35 aircraft, more of the canopy depot maintenance work currently being done by the manufacturer will soon, by contract, be transferred to the Air Force; at which time a much larger repair facility on base will need to be ready.
• Without this project, Hill Air Force Base will not have the resources in place to fulfill obligated canopy repair workloads associated with the F-35 aircraft, resulting in the need to privately contract at a higher cost to accomplish this workload and meet maintenance deadlines.

The bill now awaits passage in the Senate.

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