--- title: 'Air Force Bases in Arizona: Luke, Davis-Monthan and the Guard Bases' slug: air-force-bases-in-arizona description: >- See every Air Force base in Arizona, from Luke AFB to Davis-Monthan and the Guard wings, plus 2026 BAH and tax perks. Talk with a local agent about your move. publishedAt: '2026-10-29T09:00:00.000Z' updatedAt: '2026-11-01T00:00:00.000Z' author: VeteranPCS categories: - U.S. Military Bases - PCS Help canonical: 'https://www.veteranpcs.com/blog/air-force-bases-in-arizona' componentSlug: us-military-bases stateSlug: arizona --- # Air Force Bases in Arizona: Luke, Davis-Monthan and the Guard Bases If you have orders to one of the Air Force bases in Arizona, you will land in one of two places: the Phoenix area or Tucson. Each city has one active-duty base and one Air National Guard base. Luke Air Force Base (AFB) trains fighter pilots west of Phoenix. Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson is in the middle of a big mission change in 2026. This guide covers all four bases, 2026 BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing), and what Arizona offers military buyers. Looking for the Army and Marine Corps posts too? Start with our hub guide, [What Military Bases Are in Arizona?](/blog/what-military-bases-are-in-arizona) ## Air Force Bases in Arizona, at a Glance | Installation | Nearest city | Best known for | | --- | --- | --- | | Luke AFB | Glendale, west of Phoenix | 56th Fighter Wing, F-35A pilot training | | Davis-Monthan AFB | Tucson | 355th Wing, rescue, electronic attack and the "Boneyard" | | Morris Air National Guard Base | Tucson | 162nd Wing, F-16 training | | Goldwater Air National Guard Base | Phoenix | 161st Air Refueling Wing, KC-135R | ![Infographic of Arizona's four Air Force installations showing each base, its nearest city, and its main mission](/images/blog/air-force-bases-in-arizona/arizona-air-force-installations.png) *Arizona's Air Force installations at a glance. Sources: official wing and base websites; Stars and Stripes.* ## Luke Air Force Base Luke AFB is in Glendale, west of Phoenix, per [Military OneSource's Luke AFB overview](https://installations.militaryonesource.mil/in-depth-overview/luke-afb). It is home to the 56th Fighter Wing, which the base calls the largest fighter wing in the world and the Air Force's main active-duty fighter pilot training wing, per the [Luke AFB units page](https://www.luke.af.mil/Units/). The wing graduates more than 400 pilots and 300 air control professionals each year. Luke's U.S. pilot training moved fully to the F-35A Lightning II after the final U.S. F-16 training mission flew on Sept. 30, 2024, per a [Luke AFB news release](https://www.luke.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3924749/flying-forward-us-pilot-training-mission-at-luke-air-force-base-transitions-to). The wing also runs the Barry M. Goldwater Range, which spans more than 1.7 million acres of Sonoran Desert, and the Gila Bend Air Force Auxiliary Field. On-base homes are run by Balfour Beatty Communities, per the [Air Force housing page for Luke](https://www.housing.af.mil/Home/Installations/Luke-AFB). Off base, families often look at Litchfield Park, Goodyear, Surprise, Peoria and Glendale. Our [Luke AFB guide to Phoenix](/blog/pcs-to-luke-afb-military-guide-to-phoenix) compares those towns. Want a short commute to Luke without giving up good schools? [Talk with a West Valley agent who works with military families](https://www.veteranpcs.com/contact-agent?form=agent&fn=Romy&id=0014x00001omf3z&state=arizona). There is no cost and no obligation. ## Davis-Monthan Air Force Base Davis-Monthan AFB sits on the southeast side of Tucson. Its host unit is the 355th Wing. The big news: the base's A-10 Thunderbolt II mission ended on Sept. 18, 2026, when its last A-10 units inactivated, per [Stars and Stripes](https://www.stripes.com/branches/air_force/2026-09-21/a10-units-inactivated-davis-monthan-22919865.html). The Air Force still flies the A-10 at other bases. New missions are moving in, per [Air & Space Forces Magazine](https://www.airandspaceforces.com/air-force-retires-last-ec-130h-davis-monthan-transition/): - The 355th Wing becomes a rescue hub, flying HH-60W helicopters and HC-130J aircraft. - The 55th Electronic Combat Group flies the new EA-37B Compass Call jet, which replaced the retired EC-130H. - The 492nd Special Operations Wing is moving in with OA-1K and CV-22 aircraft over the next few years. If you are coming for one of these new units, ask your sponsor about the timeline. Squadrons may stand up in stages. ### The Boneyard Davis-Monthan is also home to the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG), often called the Boneyard. It stores nearly 3,200 aircraft and more than 6,300 engines on a 2,600-acre site, per the [309th AMARG page](https://www.dm.af.mil/About-DM/Units/Mission-Partners/309-AMARG/). On-base housing is run by Centinel and Soaring Heights Communities, per the [Air Force housing page for Davis-Monthan](https://www.housing.af.mil/Home/Installations/Davis-Monthan-AFB/). For neighborhoods like Vail, Sahuarita and Oro Valley, read our [Davis-Monthan AFB 2026 PCS guide](/blog/pcs-to-davis-monthan-afb-tucson-2026-guide). ## Arizona's Air National Guard Bases ### Morris Air National Guard Base Morris Air National Guard Base (ANGB) sits next to Tucson International Airport. It is home to the 162nd Wing, one of the largest Air National Guard wings in the country, per the [162nd Wing fact sheet](https://www.162wing.ang.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/444440/162nd-wing/). The wing trains F-16 pilots from partner nations. It shares the Tucson BAH area with Davis-Monthan. ### Goldwater Air National Guard Base Goldwater ANGB, once called Phoenix Sky Harbor Air National Guard Base, is home to the 161st Air Refueling Wing. The wing flies the KC-135R Stratotanker, per the [161st Air Refueling Wing](https://www.161arw.ang.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1026602/arizona-air-guard-base-named-after-goldwater/). It shares the Phoenix BAH area with Luke. ## What BAH Covers Near Arizona's Air Force Bases BAH is a monthly, tax-free payment to help cover off-base housing. It depends on your pay grade, your duty ZIP code, and whether you have dependents. Here are 2026 rates from the [DTMO BAH rate lookup](https://www.travel.dod.mil/Allowances/Basic-Allowance-for-Housing/BAH-Rate-Lookup/). Each cell shows with dependents first, then without. | Rate area | E-5 | E-7 | O-3 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Phoenix: Luke, Goldwater (AZ013) | $2,289 / $1,740 | $2,475 / $2,070 | $2,490 / $2,391 | | Tucson: Davis-Monthan, Morris (AZ015) | $1,905 / $1,428 | $2,145 / $1,701 | $2,199 / $2,037 | ![Grouped bar chart comparing 2026 with-dependents BAH for E-5, E-7 and O-3 in the Phoenix and Tucson rate areas](/images/blog/air-force-bases-in-arizona/arizona-air-force-bah-2026.png) *2026 monthly BAH with dependents near Arizona's Air Force bases. Source: Defense Travel Management Office BAH rate lookup.* Phoenix BAH runs about $290 to $385 a month higher than Tucson for the grades shown. Compare home prices in each area before you decide how much to spend. To see how your rate turns into a price range, read [how much house you can afford on BAH](/blog/how-much-house-can-you-afford-on-bah). ## Buying a Home Near Arizona's Air Force Bases **Use your VA loan.** A VA loan is a home loan backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Per the [VA's purchase loan page](https://www.va.gov/housing-assistance/home-loans/loan-types/purchase-loan/), you can buy with no down payment as long as the price is not higher than the home's appraised value. **Enjoy the tax breaks.** Arizona does not tax active duty military pay, and military retired pay has been fully exempt since tax year 2021, per the [Arizona Department of Revenue's military tax page](https://azdor.gov/individuals/income-tax-filing-assistance/military-tax-filing). That makes Arizona a popular place to buy a home you may keep after you retire. **Check property tax help.** A 2026 state law fully exempts the primary home of a veteran with a 100% service-connected disability rating, starting with tax year 2026, per [Laws 2026, Chapter 2](https://www.azleg.gov/legtext/57Leg/2R/laws/0002.pdf). Veterans with lower ratings may get a partial exemption. Apply with your county assessor, and see our guide to [Arizona veteran property tax exemptions](/blog/arizona-veteran-property-tax-exemptions-2026). **Plan for summer heat.** Phoenix and Tucson summers are hot. When you tour homes, ask about the age of the air conditioner and average summer power bills. Our [Arizona PCS guide](/blog/arizona-pcs-guide) has more tips for desert living. Not Air Force? See our guides to [Fort Huachuca](/blog/pcs-to-fort-huachuca-2026-guide), the Army's intelligence post near Sierra Vista, and [MCAS Yuma](/blog/your-complete-guide-to-mcas-yuma), the Marine Corps air station in the state's southwest corner. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How many Air Force bases are in Arizona? Arizona has two active-duty Air Force bases, Luke AFB and Davis-Monthan AFB. It also has two Air National Guard bases, Morris ANGB in Tucson and Goldwater ANGB in Phoenix. ### Are there still A-10s at Davis-Monthan? No. Davis-Monthan's A-10 units inactivated on Sept. 18, 2026. The base now focuses on rescue, electronic attack and, soon, special operations. The Air Force still flies the A-10 at other bases. ### What jets fly at Luke AFB? Luke trains U.S. pilots on the F-35A. The base's U.S. F-16 training ended in September 2024. ### Which Arizona Air Force base has the higher BAH? Luke. In 2026, an E-5 with dependents gets $2,289 a month in the Phoenix area and $1,905 in the Tucson area. Know an Airman with Arizona orders? Share this guide with your military network. *This post was researched by VeteranPCS using .mil, .gov and official installation sources.* *This content is for informational purposes. Consult a professional for personal financial decisions.*