Frelinghuysen Welcomes AF Decision on Tanker Basing

New KC-46A Tankers Coming to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (JBMDL)

“The Air Force’s decision to base new KC-46 tankers in New Jersey is an endorsement of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst as one of the nation’s premier air mobility installations,” said Frelinghuysen.  “Clearly, the strong work that aircraft and crews at McGuire have done over the years to maintain the critically important ‘air bridge’ from the continental U.S. to the Middle East, Europe, Africa and beyond put this base in a strong position.”   

As immediate past Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, Frelinghuysen for years advocated for basing the KC-46 tanker at JBMDL with senior Air Force leaders, including Secretary Deborah Lee James, and various Chiefs of Staff of the Air Force.  “The message over the years has been simple: McGuire has the location, the facilities, the experience and the workforce to ensure that the Air Force maintains its ‘global reach.’  Nothing is more important for the warfighter!”

“I can’t think of a better base to host the new tanker,” said Frelinghuysen. “This is a good day for the nation, our military, New Jersey, the Joint Base and the 40,000 people who work there.”

JBMDL is competing with many bases for the next Main Operating Base 4 (MOB 4) for the KC-46A, including bases Dover, Del., Abilene, Texas; Spokane, Wash., Grand Forks, N.D., Charleston, S.C.; Tacoma, Wash. Little Rock, Ark., Tampa, Fla. and Mascoutah, Ill.. 

Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California was also selected as a MOB 4 “preferred alternative” for basing KC-46 tankers.

The final basing decision is expected in the summer of 2018.  The first new tankers are expected to arrive at JBMDL no later than the Spring of 2021. 

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