State Delegation Pursues New Air Force Tankers Print E-mail
tanker-contractNew fleet sought to replace aging KC-135 tankers.

Members of Washington State's federal delegation, as well as Governor Gregoire and state legislative leaders sent letters to Air Force Secretary Michel B. Donley advocating for the new KC-46A tankers to be based at Fairchild Air Force Base.

The letter described Fairchild's strategic mission its location as advantageous in landing the new tankers. 

"The base is a strategic staging platform supporting the rapid worldwide global mobility mission with access to a number of aerial refueling routes while minimizing transit fuel consumption," the letter read, in part.

The KC-46A will be built by Boeing, which won the bid earlier this year. The first 18 KC-46A tankers are expected to be delivered in 2017.

Greater Spokane Incorporated continues to advocate for the basing of the KC46-A tankers at Fairchild. Our region's largest employer has a strategic mission that is ideal for the new tankers.

Read more from The Spokesman-Review.

Read up on Fairchild's advantageous position.