AIR FORCE PROPOSES CUTS TO IA AIR NATIONAL GUARD UNITS

The Air Force is recommending reducing the number of supertankers by one at Sioux City's 185th Air Refueling Wing.

National Guard spokesman Col. Greg Hapgood also says the plan proposes  replacing 21 F-16 fighter jets with remotely piloted aircraft at the 132nd Fighter Wing in Des Moines.

The Air Force would cut the number of KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft from nine to eight at the 185th Refueling Wing in Sioux City.

The proposals are part of a plan to trim $8.7 billion from the Air Force budget in fiscal 2013.

Senator Tom Harkin has requested a meeting with the secretary of the Air Force about the recommendations. The Iowa Democrat says the proposal is "not a final decision."