FAIRBANKS — Democratic Sen. Mark Begich said he’s “fairly certain” a Red Flag Alaska training mission could be in store for Eielson Air Force Base this fall, despite sequester-driven cuts to military training budgets.

Begich made the comments in an interview with the News-Miner during a Saturday stop in Fairbanks, saying Alaska Command Air Force Lt. Gen. Stephen Hoog told him of the plans for a fall training mission.

The news comes after the cancellation of the spring Red Flag Alaska and the summer multi-branch Northern Edge exercise. Red Flag exercises typically involve units from other countries and can bring thousands of people and aircraft to the Interior.