By Pacific Island Times News Staff
Saipan- The U.S. military’s divert airfield project on Tinian is “around 50 percent complete,” according to Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Marianas.
The $22 million airfield upgrade project—one of the major defense undertakings on Tinian, where the U.S. military is investing close to $800 million — is designed to provide an alternative landing site for military aircraft if Andersen Air Force Base on Guam becomes incapacitated due to war or natural calamities.
The Tinian Divert Airfield, which is scheduled to be completed in October 2025, includes two primary components: airfield improvements providing additional capacity for military aircraft in training activities, humanitarian assistance, and support for disaster relief; and facilities and infrastructure to support KC-135 tanker aircraft.
“The total military construction cost of the improvement of the Tinian International Airport is $384 million, which is a combination of four projects for which funds were authorized between fiscal years 19-20, and awarded between FY22-23,” Lt. Cmdr. Michellet Tucker said in an Oct. 5 email.
“Separately, the DoD has contracted $409 million for construction projects at North Field, Tinian, to include life support, equipment, facilities and engineering costs,” she added.
On April 22, Fluor Corp. announced that it won the $409 million contract awarded by the U.S. Air Force Installation Contracting Agency for a "pavement and transportation support" project on Tinian. The project is scheduled for completion in 60 months.
Tinian Island was the launching point for the atomic bomb attacks against Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II.
Along with Guam, the CNMI is considered critical to U.S. defense and power projection.
Military officials met with CNMI officials this week to discuss ongoing and future Department of Defense projects in the CNMI.
During a two-day meeting held Nov. 20-21, officials of the Pacific Air Forces reported that vegetation removal on Tinian’s North Field is around 90 percent complete. “The work is part of the adaptive rehabilitation project currently underway to restore the historic site,” according to a press release from the Joint Task Force Micronesia.
The Innovative Readiness Training team shared outcomes from its exercise that provided $2.1 million worth of full-spectrum medical services to CNMI residents at no cost to the patients. The exercise provided hands-on training experience to promote mission readiness of service members, the task force said.
The CNMI will be the future site of the CNMI joint military training area – a proposed military training complex that will include multiple ranges, landing zones, and base camps to provide service members realistic joint combat training in a tropical environment.
Collaboration and open communication are critical to our shared success,” said Rear Adm. Gregory Huffman, task force commander.
Officials said the CNMI stakeholders meeting, held quarterly, was established to foster collaboration among the DoD, local government and federal agencies to share information, discuss and provide recommendations for military activities and opportunities in the CNMI.
“These meetings ensure we are on the right track with the multiple projects currently taking place in the CNMI and those planned for the future while respecting the people, the environment, and the rich culture of this island territory,” Huffman said.
Military leaders provided updates on construction projects, upcoming military training events and opportunities for partnership.
“Today’s meeting was important because it was a very robust and productive discussion on where we are at with (CNMI Joint Military Training) projects and additional activities on the island of Tinian as well as future plans for Saipan and Rota,” CNMI Gov. Arnold I. Palacios said.
“It's a very mutually beneficial relationship … a relationship that needs to be fostered,” Palacios added. “Both parties have their interests and we come together to ensure that both parties meet their goals effectively and build a foundation for long-term growth and partnership.”
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