Air Force selects new KC-46 bases in California, New Jersey

By Courtney Albon / January 12, 2017 at 4:06 PM

The Air Force announced Thursday it has selected Joint Base Mcguire Dix Lakehurst, NJ, and Travis Air Force Base, CA, as the next two active-duty bases to host the new KC-46 tanker.

In a Jan. 12 press release, outgoing Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James said the two bases meet all operational mission requirements and represent "the best value" for the Air Force and its tanker recapitalization strategy.

The two bases are designated as "preferred alternatives" to host 24 new tankers, pending the results of an environmental impact analysis. Fairchild Air Force Base, WA, and Grand Forks Air Force Base, ND, were selected as reasonable alternatives to the two preferred locations. Altus Air Force Base, OK, McConnell Air Force Base, KS, Pease Air National Guard Station, NH, and Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, NC, have already been chosen to host the KC-46 -- the first of which will be fielded this fall.

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