DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- The Air Force recommends retiring 21 F-16 fighter jets from an Iowa Air National Guard base in Des Moines and cutting the number of refueling tankers at a base in Sioux City.

Guard spokesman Col. Greg Hapgood says Friday the Air Force has proposed replacing the F-16s with remotely piloted aircraft at the 132nd Fighter Wing in Des Moines. The Air Force would cut the number of KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft from nine to eight at the 185th Refueling Wing in Sioux City.

The proposals are part of a plan to trim $8.7 billion from the Air Force budget in fiscal 2013.

Senator Tom Harkin has requested a meeting with the secretary of the Air Force about the recommendations. The Iowa Democrat says the proposal is "not a final decision."