PERU, Ind. (WANE) Fort Wayne area residents can expect to see large military aircraft in the skies that they don’t ordinarily as a result of a runway improvement project at the Grissom Air Reserve Base in Peru, Indiana.

While the 12,500 foot runway at Grissom is being repaired, some of Grissom’s KC-135 refueling tankers will call Fort Wayne International Airport and the 122nd Fighter Wing home.

According to a Grissom news release KC-135s will operate primarily out of Fort Wayne during the early stages of the runway repair, and will transition to Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio once their own runway repair project is complete.

“Runway repairs are typically done about every 10 years,” said Col. Thom Pemberton, 434^th Air Refueling Wing commander. “This time is a little different, they are removing concrete down to the dirt in many areas – which is something that has not been done since it was built in 1942.”

Grissom planners have worked with both the airport staff, and the 122^nd Fighter Wing based there to ensure a smooth transition of operations.

Some of the KC-135R Stratotankers began moving to Fort Wayne on Wednesday, March 15, 2023.

The 434^th ARW at Grissom is the largest KC-135R Stratotanker wing in the Air Force Reserve Command. The unit has 16 aircraft assigned, but not all will be making the move to Fort Wayne and Wright Patterson.