News United States Air Force
 Davis-Monthan AFB identified as AFSOC’s next power projection wingPublished Aug. 2, 2023
                        
                        
                        Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
                **ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) --**
                The Department of the Air Force selected **Davis-Monthan Air Force Base**, Arizona, as the preferred location to host **Air Force Special Operation Command**’s third power projection wing.

Transforming the 492nd Special Operations Wing into a power projection wing with all of AFSOC’s mission capabilities (strike, mobility, ISR, air/ground integration) will enable the Air Force to regionally focus each power projection wing on a geographic combatant commander. The transition will also allow AFSOC to further diversify its locations to protect against natural disasters by ensuring it can maintain its ability to respond to president-directed missions on very tight timelines.

The additional location will also permit AFSOC to take advantage of the **Barry M. Goldwater Range**, which will provide additional training opportunities, capacity and increased prioritization as its forces prepare to meet the priorities of the **National Defense Strategy**.

Standing up the new wing at Davis-Monthan AFB requires several relocations, planned throughout the next five years. The final decision will be made following completion of the environmental impact analysis process.Rescue riggers perform sling load trainingStaff Sgts. Jacob McKague and Paul Bartholdson, 920th Logistics Readiness Squadron rescue riggers, prepare to attach a reach pendent underneath a HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter during sling load training at Patrick Space Force Base, Florida, July 25, 2023. A sling load is used to transport various types of cargo to remote locations or to expedite shipments into austere environments while suspended beneath the HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Darius Sostre-Miroir)
            
            
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    A U-28A Draco assigned to the 319th Special Operations Squadron is parked on the flightline at Hurlburt Field, FloridaA U-28A Draco assigned to the 319th Special Operations Squadron is parked on the flightline at Hurlburt Field, Florida, Aug. 12, 2020. The Draco’s mission is to provide manned fixed-wing tactical airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance support to humanitarian operations, search and rescue, conventional and special operations missions worldwide. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Blake Wiles)
            
            
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    An MC-130J Commando II takes off April 2, 2015, at Melrose Air Force Range, N.M.Leaving a trail of dust in its wake, an MC-130J Commando II takes off April 2, 2015, at Melrose Air Force Range, N.M. The aircraft’s crew demonstrated its capability to take off, land, and perform air drops in remote areas during a joint exercise.
            
            
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The following outlines the planned transition actions:

The 492nd SOW at Hurlburt Field, Florida, will relocate to Davis-Monthan AFB. The relocation includes the 492nd SOW’s transition from support wing into a power projection wing.

The **U-28 Draco** fleets at **Cannon AFB**, New Mexico, and **Hurlburt Field** will be replaced by the OA-1K Armed Overwatch aircraft. As part of the 492nd SOW’s transition to a power projection wing, one OA-1K Armed Overwatch squadron will relocate from Hurlburt Field to Davis-Monthan AFB.

An **MC-130J Commando II** squadron will relocate from Cannon AFB to Davis-Monthan AFB to join the 492nd SOW.

An additional MC-130J squadron will activate at Davis-Monthan AFB.

The 21st Special Tactics Squadron will relocate from **Pope Army Airfield**, North Carolina, to Davis-Monthan AFB.

The 22nd Special Tactics Squadron will relocate from **Joint Base Lewis-McChord**, Washington, to Davis-Monthan AFB.

The 492nd Theater Air Operations Squadron will activate at Duke Field and transfer to Davis- Monthan AFB.

The 47th Fighter Squadron (24 A-10s), the 354th Fighter Squadron (26 A-10s) and the 357th Fighter Squadron (28 A-10s) at Davis-Monthan AFB will inactivate and their respective A-10s will be retired. The 47th FS and 357th FS will continue A-10 formal training until inactivation.
The 34th Weapons Squadron and the 88th Test and Evaluation Squadron will relocate from **Nellis AFB**, Nevada, to Davis-Monthan AFB, transferring five HH-60W Jolly Green IIs.LR 



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