Vandenberg Air Force Base potentially constructing new drone wing

LOMPOC, Calif. - The United States Air Force announced in a report on Nov. 25 that it is considering the environmental impacts of a new beddown for a remotely controlled aircraft wing.

The Air Force is considering placing the beddown in either the Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida or Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

The report said the beddown would house an MQ-9 Remotely Piloted Aircraft Operational Wing.

These aircraft would be used by the U.S. Air Force in support of the Department of Defense directive to support overseas contingency operations.

The U.S. Air Force said the beddown would include, "a Wing Headquarters, an Operations Group and Maintenance Group."

Facilities would be renovated and constructed to support staff and house MQ-9 aircraft.

The U.S. Air Force has declared its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement to evaluate potential environmental consequences associated with the institution of this beddown.

In preparation for this decision, the U.S. Air Force will be hosting two open-house public scoping meetings.

One will be located at Allan Hancock College in the Lompoc Valley Center in Lompoc from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m on Thursday, Dec. 12.

The other will be located in Panama City, Florida on Tuesday.

The report also details a second beddown consideration for an F-35A Operational Wing at the Tyndall Air Force Base.

The Air Force said it is accepting scoping comments on the proposed beddowns through the project website.