After Landing $46 Million in Federal Funding, Reed Breaks Ground on New Army Aviation Readiness Center at Quonset Point

QUONSET, RI - Today, U.S. Senator Jack Reed joined federal, state, local, and military officials to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new Army Aviation Readiness Center at Quonset Point. The new facility will house an Army aviation battalion, 1st Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment, and five supporting companies, HHC, A, C, D, and E. It features training classrooms, administrative offices, equipment and supply storage, vehicle maintenance bays, and a fueling station.

The Rhode Island Army National Guard's 1-126th Aviation Regiment operates UH-60 Black Hawk utility helicopters (including variant roles like MEDEVAC/HH-60 configurations). These medium-lift aircraft are used for multi-role missions such as troop transport, search and rescue, aeromedical evacuation, and aerial firefighting.

Senator Reed, the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and a leading member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, was instrumental in securing the authorization and funding for this project over two years.

"I'm pleased to deliver federal funding for this new Army Aviation Readiness Center, which represents a major enhancement and recognizes the dedication and professionalism of the Rhode Island Army National Guard. This is an investment in our citizen soldiers -- courageous men and women who serve our nation and carry out difficult and dangerous missions on our behalf. Our servicemembers deserve the best facilities, equipment, and training possible so they can do their jobs effectively and come home safely to their families. Whether it's search and rescue here at home, or serving in combat zones overseas, I am grateful to the Rhode Island Air National Guard for their outstanding service. The success of their missions starts right here and I am proud to upgrade their training and readiness facilities to ensure they continue to be the very best of the best," said Senator Reed, who has spearheaded federal funding for several major upgrades at Quonset, including the reconstruction of the main runway, the newly opened Air Guard headquarters, and several other facility improvements.

Initially, this project was funded in the fiscal year (FY) 2024 Military-Construction/VA bill at $30 million, which was the original cost estimate. But as cost estimates for the future facility increased, Senator Reed worked to secure an additional $16 million in FY25 to cover the remaining cost. This amount was included in the FY25 Military-Construction/VA law and Senator Reed worked with the Director of the Army National Guard to ensure the allocation of these funds for this new facility.

The project calls for the construction of a new 75,000-square foot Readiness Center that will replace 26,000 square-feet of existing structures that were not specifically designed to house military units. These existing structures were constructed in the 1940s.

Increasing the size of the facility gives the Battalion more mission planning and operations space. Additionally, this new readiness center will allow Echo Company (Aviation Forward Support Company) to co-locate with the Battalion.

The new facility will also include a dedicated ground maintenance space, allowing Battalion mechanics to conduct maintenance on ground vehicles without competing for space and tools in the 56th Troop Command Armory.

The facility will be blast resistant to comply to Anti-Terrorism Force Protection (ATFP) standards. It will also comply with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) standards due to its location along an air strip. All materials and products for construction will be exclusively American made, per the Build America, Buy America Act (BABA). Under Army regulations, the facility will be 100 percent electrically powered and achieve LEED-Silver standards.

In addition to this new Army Aviation Readiness Center, Reed previously secured $46 million for the construction of the nearby headquarters of the Rhode Island Air National Guard's 143d Airlift Wing, which opened last summer. Senator Reed has also helped deliver a total of $60 million in federal funding for upgrades to Quonset's main runway - including $32.5 million from the U.S. Department of Defense and $27.5 million from the FAA, with another $3.05 million coming from the state.

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Tweet