Maryland is set to take control of the DC Air National Guard’s fighter squadron as part of a deal that also involves Washington, DC, gaining control of the RFK stadium site.
The U.S. Air Force has approved the transfer of the 121st Fighter Squadron from Washington, DC, to the Maryland Air National Guard. Currently, Maryland operates A-10 attack aircraft, which are set to be phased out next year. With this transfer, Maryland will soon operate F-16 fighter jets, an advanced aircraft used widely by the Air Force. The DC Air National Guard has the important role of defending the National Capital Region, which includes some of the country’s most sensitive airspace, and the fighter wing is on constant alert. In contrast, the A-10s in Maryland were primarily deployed overseas for attack missions.
Originally, Maryland’s Air National Guard was transitioning to a cyber role, but the transfer of the fighter squadron will allow the unit to continue its flying operations.
Governor Wes Moore of Maryland expressed pride in the unit’s skilled pilots and noted the state’s advocacy to preserve the flying mission for both national security and tradition. The transfer was part of a broader agreement involving Washington, DC, taking over the land around RFK Stadium. This deal could pave the way for the NFL to return to DC, while Maryland would receive funding to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge.
The deal faced a setback last week when a provision to transfer the RFK stadium land to DC was removed from a government funding package due to opposition from President-elect Donald Trump and entrepreneur Elon Musk. However, in a surprising turn, the Senate passed a bill granting DC control of the land early Saturday morning. The Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Campus Revitalization Act now awaits President Joe Biden’s signature after passing the House earlier in the year.
The Washington Commanders NFL team has been based at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland, since 1997, after playing at RFK Stadium from 1961 to 1996.
Brig. Gen. Drew Dougherty of the Maryland Air National Guard hailed the transfer as a historic step, ensuring that the state’s highly trained pilots and maintenance personnel remain central to both flying and cyber operations. The exact timeline for the transfer of the fighter squadron will be announced later.