Construction for fighters beginning in Beaufort

BEAUFORT, S.C. (AP) — Work begins this week at the Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort on facilities to house the nation’s next generation of fighter jets.

The Beaufort Gazette reports (http://bit.ly/pQKZTf ) that groundbreaking ceremonies are set Thursday for construction of a hanger and training facilities for the new F-35B Joint Strike Fighter. The project will cost $70 million and should take two years.

It’s the start of $350 million in base renovations.

The new planes will mean other changes for the 50-year-old air base.

Air Station spokeswoman Lt. Sharon Hyland says security will be tighter because the planes are the base’s first stealth fighters. Hyland says the base will also have training squadrons of the jets.

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Information from: The Beaufort Gazette, http://www.beaufortgazette.com