Maritime surveillance training opportunities are driving plans for NAS Jacksonville to include more than $190 million in construction projects –– including $130 million in new construction –– at the region’s largest industrial complex.
Ongoing construction projects include the $47.7 million P-8A Integrated Training Center, $9.2 million in improvements to the naval hospital and $8.3 for a new “All Hands Club” entertainment center.
NAS Jacksonville Commanding Officer Capt. Robert Sanders provided a “State of the Base” presentation Thursday to describe plans for the base, which operates on nearly 4,000 acres on Jacksonville’s Westside.
“We started this last year because we do get a lot of questions about how NAS Jax is doing, where is NAS Jax going and what is the future here on base,” said Sanders.
“What I like to tell people is NAS Jax is vibrant. We are here to stay and here to stay for a long time,” said Sanders.
The base is scheduled to begin some projects before the end of the 2012 fiscal year, which concludes Sept. 30, including a $26 million P-8A ordnance load training facility, a $4.4 million BAMS UAS (Broad Area Maritime Surveillance Unmanned Aircraft System) training facility and $6.1 million in P-8A modifications to Hangar 30.
Plans for fiscal 2013, which begins Oct. 1, include a $22 million BAMS UAS control facility.
NAS Jacksonville also is planning a $23.2 million P-8A training and parking apron expansion for the 2014 fiscal year.
The P-8A is slated to take over maritime surveillance duties from the P-3C Orion in the Navy’s fleet in the coming years. Its uses include long-range anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. It is a modified Boeing 737-800ERX.
The unmanned aircraft system can stay in flight for up to 30 hours and has a ceiling of 60,000 feet to allow it to perform its intelligence-gathering missions.
“The BAMS is also one of the futures of Jax and how we proceed forward,” said Sanders.
While NAS is preparing for the BAMS training facility, where the actual unmanned aircraft will be based has yet to be determined, said Sanders.
“There are a lot of rules that the FAA has for where an unmanned vehicle could go, where it can land, where it can operate, so right now that is the sticking point,” said Sanders.
The construction projects aren’t all work-related. Sanders said that his mission as commander also is to provide comfort for the fighter and family.
The Navy Lodge, the base’s hotel, will receive $3.4 million in alterations. Synthetic turf will be added to Sea King Park in a $1.1 million project. The park is located near the Birmingham gate. A contract has been awarded for a $3.9 million upgrade to the marina.
“It actually started this weekend with the storm. We started our first stage of demolition. The project will probably make the marina the safest on the St. Johns,” said Sanders. He added that the new marina will be able to endure 90 MPH winds and a storm surge of 5-6 feet.
Also, a new commissary is planned for the 2014 fiscal year at a cost of $42 million.
NAS construction projects also included family housing. Nearly 300 new homes have been built on the base recently.
“We took down what we like to refer to as the ‘Fred Flintstone houses’ of the 1940s and built either single-family or townhouses,” said Sanders.
Sanders assumed the position as commanding officer Jan. 13 after serving as its executive officer for nearly two years.
Jacksonville Port Authority CEO Paul Anderson attended the presentation.
“There are 22,000 men and women working at this facility. Not only are they America’s finest, but they are well-trained and terrific additions to the workforce that we need here in this community,” said Anderson.
“I think it is important that our community continues to be one of the best supportive communities for our military because it will reap rewards for Jacksonville for generations,” said Anderson.
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