OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Oklahoma Sen. Jim Inhofe says the Air Force plans to close a communications unit at Tinker Air Force Base that employs about 600 people.

A spokesman for Inhofe, Jared Young, said the Air Force notified Inhofe's office of the decision on Tuesday. Young says a formal announcement is expected later.

Young says the Air Force plans to eliminate the 3rd Combat Communications Group, known as the 3rd Herd. He says the Air Force will retain another wing of the unit at Robins Air Force Base in Georgia.

The unit provides communications, computer systems, navigational aids and air traffic control. The cuts are the biggest so far at an Oklahoma military base as the Defense Department adjusts to new budget priorities.

A spokesman for Tinker, Brion Ockenfels, had no immediate comment.