This undated photo provided by Northrop Grumman Corp., shows a pre-production model of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. South Carolina is one of six sites the Air Force has chosen to host the new supersonic and stealthy F-35 fighter plane, U.S. Rep. John Spratt, D-S.C., announced Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2006. Shaw Air Force Base and McEntire Air National Guard Base will get the aircraft, dubbed "Lightning II" in 2009, the congressman announced in a news release. The F-35 is a single-seat, supersonic, stealthy aircraft that is to be used in a variety of missions, such as air-to-air combat, ground attacks, and the suppressing of enemy air defenses. (Northrop Grumman, File/The Associated Press)

Washington » Utah's federal lawmakers on Thursday celebrated the Air Force's decision to house some of its newest fighters -- the F-35 Lightning -- at Hill Air Force Base.

If that sounds familiar, it probably should. The state's congressional delegation made pretty much the same announcement three years ago.

Utah Sen. Bob Bennett said the October 2006 decision turned out to be a bit premature, calling it "more prospective rather than affirmative."

"We didn't realize it at the time," he told The Salt Lake Tribune after a news conference with Sen. Orrin Hatch.

The delegation and the Air Force never disclosed that Hill Air Force Base might not house the F-35. But, Bennett said, it turned out that Air Force brass had second thoughts. Thursday's announcement contained no mention of the earlier Air Force decision.

A new Air Force leadership team appointed in June conducted a review of the F-35 decision; and ultimately decided that Hill should house one to three squadrons of the stealth fighter. Two other bases, Mountain Home in Idaho and Shaw in South Carolina, are also expected to receive some F-35s, as long as the bases pass an environmental assessment. The senators were unaware of when that assessment would take place.

"While the process isn't totally complete, this is a great day for Utah and Hill Air Force Base and marks a crucial milestone for Hill retaining a fighter

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mission in the years ahead," Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, said in a statement.

Thursday's announcement means Hill officials are in the same position they were back in 2006. They don't know how many fighters would be housed in Hill's massive hangar or when they would arrive. Bennett said the earliest the new jets could fly into northern Utah is 2013.

Hill officials on Thursday said they were not at liberty to talk about the announcement.

This isn't the first time Utah's federal officials announced a coup for Hill Air Force Base, only to make the same announcement again at a later time.

In March of this year, Hatch's office announced that Hill would conduct the maintenance and repair work on some unmanned attack drones, only to be told by the Air Force that his announcement "was in error." The service's legislative liaisons apologized to Hatch for providing documents that "created the unintended impression" that a final decision had been made.

Four months later, the Air Force made a final decision and Hill won the job.

But the addition of an F-35 squadron to the base is a much bigger deal. Utah's senators say Hill's selection should protect it from the potential military cuts in the future and will result in some job growth as hangars are remodeled or constructed to house the new jets. Hill Air Force Base will also conduct much of the maintenance work on the fighters.