MacArthur Praises Critical Placement of the KC-46 Tanker at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst

Washington, D.C. – Congressman MacArthur today praised the placement of the KC-46 refueling tanker at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.

“This is incredible news for Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, the state of New Jersey and the future of national security in the United States,” said Congressman MacArthur. “I am grateful for the contributions and support of Governor Christie, Lieutenant Governor Guadagno, Senators Booker and Menendez, my colleagues in the House, Congressmen Smith and Norcross, as well as the hundreds of elected officials and community members who joined us in the fight to secure the KC-46. This truly was a team effort, and because of that, over 42,000 New Jersey residents in my district who are employed at the base and the thousands of additional jobs in the surrounding area that rely on its survival can breathe easy knowing the Joint Base will remain our nation’s premier air mobility installation by becoming the new home of the KC-46 air-to-air refueling tanker.”

The Air Force will introduce the KC-46 into the refueling fleet beginning in 2020 with a projected completion by 2023. The fleet is currently led by the KC-10 that received protections from Congressman MacArthur in the FY16 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) with bipartisan support from Congressman Norcross.  MacArthur organized 282 officials from Ocean and Burlington Counties and the state to sign a letter in support of the placement of the KC-46. MacArthur and Governor Christie recently discussed the need for the tanker with Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James. MacArthur and Congressman Smith had a separate sit-down with General Everhart, Commander of U.S. Air Mobility Command. Additionally, MacArthur has worked with key people in New Jersey and the Department of Defense to make sure JBMDL would be considered the ideal location for the placement of the new tanker.

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