Earlier this month, Supervisors Hardy Bullock and Sue Hoek received letters of appreciation from Congressman Doug LaMalfa thanking members for their “work, engagement and advocacy” in securing a Collaborative Combat Aircraft Mission at Beale Air Force Base.
The national defense program at Beale Air Force will bring technology and investment to the region, according to LaMalfa. Beale Air Force Base covers nearly 23,000 acres in Yuba County and is home to more than 4,500 military personnel, according to its website.
LaMalfa and California Sen. Adam Schiff worked to bring the unit to Northern California. Beale Air Force Base beat out Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada and Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota, according to the Sacramento Bee.
Bullock, who represents District 5, and Hoek, who represents District 4, submitted a joint letter of support for the program.
"I’m very proud of our support of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft Mission at Beale Air Force Base. This mission will bring important jobs and technology to our communities. Receiving this letter from Congressman LaMalfa validated our bipartisan efforts," said District 5 Supervisor Hardy Bullock.
"While Beale Air Force Base is not located within Nevada County, our community will benefit. This new Air Force mission will leverage existing infrastructure of Beale Air Force Base, reinforce our national defense and bolster economic opportunities in our region," said District 4 Supervisor Sue Hoek.
In May, the Department of the Air Force announced it had selected Beale Air Force Base as the preferred location to host a Collaborative Combat Aircraft Readiness Unit.
"The mission of the Aircraft Readiness Unit is to provide combat-ready aircraft, deployable worldwide at a moment’s notice,” according to a statement released by Beale Air Force Base.
“We are excited about the potential for this new mission to enhance global power projection capabilities while remaining a vital economic engine for Nevada County, as well as Placer, Sutter and Yuba counties," the statement continued. The Collaborative Combat Aircraft program is part of the Next Generation Air Dominance Family of Systems.
Designed to operate alongside crewed aircraft, the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program prioritizes speed, flexibility and cost-effectiveness and “will extend operational reach, enhance survivability and increase lethality in contested environments,” according to a press release.
Congressman LaMalfa called the mission a major win for the region and he shared his appreciation of local support in his letter to Nevada County supervisors.
“Over the last number of months, you and many others in our community stepped up and worked hard to bring the CCA Mission to Beale AFB,” wrote LaMalfa in his letter to the Board of Supervisors.
“This was a massive team effort from Congress to the State Legislature, Counties and Cities, Chambers of Commerce, and Water Boards. Together we showed the respect and appreciation our community has for Beale Air Force Base, the brave men and women who serve there, and their vital mission in protecting our homeland,” wrote LaMalfa. “Thank you for your work, engagement and advocacy on this critical project for the region, California, and our national defense. Your efforts truly made a difference, and very likely played a determining factor in the decision-making process within the Department of the Air Force."
PHOTO CAPTION: A YFQ-42A production representative test vehicle is staged in Poway, Calif. The Department of the Air Force has begun ground testing for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program to validate performance and readiness for future flight testing. (Courtesy photo. Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs)