Value of F-35 jet fighters only beginning to soar in South Carolina

South Carolina is home to a squadron of the world's most advanced jets that, last month, achieved another major milestone at sea.

The fifth generation F-35 Joint Strike Fighter just wrapped up its first operational test at sea and demonstrated incredible capabilities. The F-35 fighters, which are based at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, are appreciated in my community for their wide-ranging economic impact, but they truly will be cherished for the role they will play in our never-ending effort to keep America strong and free.

For two weeks in May, our F-35s were joined by F-35s from Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., to start a dramatic new phase of training on board the USS Wasp, an amphibious ship underway off our South Carolina coast. This is the first time a full complement of F-35s flew from an amphibious ship, testing day and night landings, aircraft to ship communications, software, and maintenance procedures.

The impact of the F-35 on our nation, South Carolina and Beaufort County is immeasurable.

For South Carolina, it is important to be on the cutting edge of protecting America's national security. The F-35 is the most advanced fighter in the world and the only fifth-generation fighter in production for our U.S. services.

As South Carolinians, we are proud of our patriotic heritage. As the F-35 replaces older legacy aircraft, our state is helping to protect heroes at the forefront of defending our country, including the marines and sailors who call the Palmetto State home.

In April of this year, the public was treated to an up-close and personal demonstration of the capabilities of the F-35B at the MCAS Beaufort Air Show.

The novelty of these F-35s is engaging for the public and brings attendees to events like the air show.

But the F-35 has impact beyond its patriotism or entertainment value for air shows. The F-35 is having a real, meaningful economic impact on South Carolina.

The economic impact numbers tell the story. In 2012, the direct and indirect economic impact of the F-35 in South Carolina was shy of $2 million. In 2014, that impact grew to more than $22 million.

As reported in a recent economic impact study from S.C. Department of Commerce, our military bases statewide contribute approximately $19.3 billion of economic impact a year to our state.

I am not naive. I know that the F-35 has been the subject of criticism in the past. The story today, however, is a different one. Today, more than 130 aircraft have been delivered to the U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, and to the United Kingdom, Austria and the Netherlands. These fighters have continued to conduct successful flight testing, preparing the way for the services to begin declaring Initial Operational Capability.

For South Carolina taxpayers, the story is equally positive. An industry-led effort on the Joint Strike Fighter program called the Blueprint for Affordability was introduced in 2014. It will result in the cost of a fifth-generation F-35 being roughly equal to the cost of a fourth-generation fighter by the end of 2019.

The economic model for the F-35 is simple and relies on economies of scale â€" the more fighters that are built, the lower the cost per fighter. Purchases of F-35s by the U.S.'s eight international partners and three foreign military customers are part of the cost-saving story, but not the whole story. International partners have invested $4.5 billion into the development of the F-35. Further, international purchases are expected to save U.S. taxpayers $36 billion in procurement and sustainment costs.

What I am telling you is that the F-35 is good for South Carolina, upholds our core patriotic values by providing for America's national security and is good for our taxpayers. I am thrilled that Beaufort County is playing such a critical role in delivering this capability to the young men and women protecting our freedom.

State Rep. Shannon Erickson of Beaufort represents Beaufort County's District 124.

This story was originally published July 7, 2015 at 2:19 PM with the headline "Value of F-35 jet fighters only beginning to soar in South Carolina."