For Immediate Release

July 14, 2004

CONFERENCE PANEL AFFIRMS SUPPORT
FOR AIR FORCE TANKER REPLACEMENT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A House-Senate conference committee endorsed final language tonight that will appropriate $100 million in the upcoming fiscal year to begin replacing the 43-year old fleet of Air Force in-flight refueling tankers, U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks said Wednesday.

            Rep. Dicks, the second-ranking Democratic member of the defense appropriations subcommittee in the House, said that the conference committee agreed to fund the tanker replacement, inserting specific language that urges the Defense Department to accelerate the ongoing studies and analyses that have thus far delayed the modernization of the aging tanker fleet.

            The congressman said the language approved tonight states the "conferees' intent that the Air Force proceed apace with replacing its fleet of aging aerial refueling aircraft. In particular, the Department of Defense should endeavor to complete as quickly as possible the ongoing analysis of tanker replacement program alternatives. "  In addition, the language cautions the Air Force be concerned about the continuing capabilities of the aircraft industry in America.  The conference report states: "(the) conferees strongly urge the Department of Defense to thoroughly consider the effects on the U.S. aircraft industrial base of any and all tanker replacement program alternatives. "

            Since initial congressional action to launch a tanker replacement program in late 2001, the modernization has been delayed due to concerns about the relative cost of leasing versus purchasing the Boeing 767-based refueling planes.  While the House and Senate gave initial approval to a program of leasing 100 tankers, members of the Senate armed services committee endorsed a plan in 2003 to purchase 80 outright and lease the remaining 20 planes, Rep. Dicks said.   The language in the conference agreement approved tonight includes the funding to begin implementing that plan, pending the resolution of the remaining studies sought by the Pentagon prior to issuing a contract, he said.

              "The existing tanker fleet has only gotten older and more expensive to maintain since we began this effort," said Rep. Dicks.  "There is no dispute about how critical air-to-air refueling is to U.S. air power, and every recent military conflict our nation has undertaken has required greater and greater use of tankers to project American military force," he added.    "We cannot delay this decision much longer," Dicks said.  The congressman said he expected all of the requested studies of the tanker procurement to be completed by the end of the calendar year, after which the Pentagon could finalize terms with Boeing for acquiring the new tankers.

Home >> Newsroom >> Press Releases