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Luke Air Force Base is one step closer to receiving at least 72 new F-35 Joint Strike Fighters. From Phoenix, KJZZ's Terry Ward reports.

Arizona Sen. John McCain has been a leading proponent of Luke as the new home for the F-35.

Getting the new jets is critical to Luke because its current fleet of F-16s will be phased out when the F-35 comes into service beginning in 2015.

A draft environmental impact statement released by the Air Force designates Luke as the preferred alternative for primary flight training for new F-35 pilots. It identifies slightly higher noise levels as the biggest impacts of the new jets.

The Air Force plans a series of public meetings to take comments on the plan next month and expects to make a final decision in July.