Senators Boxer, Feinstein urge keeping MC-12 planes at Beale

California Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer have written a letter expressing strong support for keeping the MC-12 Liberty spy plane program with the Air Force.

The MC-12 mission, which is based at Beale Air Force Base, complements other intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance missions also at Beale, the letter states.

"Co-locating these assets will allow for integration of intelligence support from the tactical to strategic levels," the letter states. "We can think of no reason why the Air Force cannot continue to support the intelligence needs of their sister services with the Liberty, just as they do with the U-2, the Predators and the Global Hawk."

The letter, directed at U.S. Sens. Carl Levin, D-Mich., and John McCain, R-Ariz., — the chairman and ranking member, respectively of the Senate Armed Services Committee — is in response to a committee bill transferring MC-12 oversight to the Army.

According to the committee report for the defense authorization bill, the MC-12 mission would move because the U.S. military won't need two ISR plane missions in two branches.

Doing so would also save the Department of Defense from buying 37 C-12 planes for the Army's plane mission, and just use the MC-12s instead.

Boxer's and Feinsten's letter specifically outlines benefits for the Yuba-Sutter region from the mission, which is expected to require hundreds of airmen and support staff in coming years. The letter cites the mission as creating $450 million in positive economic impact for the region.

"Transferring the MC-12 to the Army, and the subsequent re-locating of the aircraft, support activities, and personnel — so soon after the Beale basing decision and the arrival of the first planes — are expenses we cannot afford right now," the letter states.

A spokesman for Levin said the senator's office would not respond to the letter, though he noted the defense authorization bill isn't scheduled for a vote by the full Senate until the fall.

The MC-12 transfer is not part of a similar bill passed by the House of Representatives, and the two bills will have to be reconciled and approved by both houses.

U.S. Rep. Wally Herger, R-Chico, has said he expects Army and Air Force officials to release a joint memorandum on the future of the MC-12 program within the next few months.

Seven MC-12s are now stationed at Beale for training and maintenance, with the remaining 30 deployed overseas.

CONTACT reporter Ben van der Meer at 749-4786