Joint Base Selected To Receive Next Generation Aircraft

Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst has been selected to receive KC-46A aircraft, state and federal officials announced on Thursday.

The Joint Base was selected through a highly competitive process to receive the next generation aircraft, and it is critical to the long-term survival of the base, as well as state and national public safety and security, Gov. Chris Christie said.

“This is a monumental decision for Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and the people of New Jersey, including the tens of thousands of military families who dedicate their lives by serving at the base,” Christie said. “I thank New Jersey’s bipartisan congressional delegation for their successful co-leadership in this effort and Air Force Secretary James for answering my call to make the proper decision to choose the Joint Base among a competitive field. Gaining the KC-46A aircraft means securing the Joint Base’s future for the next six decades. I’m proud of and excited for the base and with this news look forward to seeing it continue to grow as a beacon of strength, hope and security for our state, region and nation.”

The base will house 24 KC 46s. Another 24 will be stationed at Travis Air Force Base in California.

The KC 46A is a widebody, multirole tanker that can refuel all U.S., allied and coalition military aircraft compatible with international aerial refueling procedures, according to boeing.com.

Boeing designed the KC-46A to carry passengers, cargo and patients. The aircraft can detect, avoid, defeat and survive threats using multiple layers of protection, which will enable it to operate safely in medium-threat environments.

It is currently deployed in Kansas, New Hampshire, and Oklahoma. Other bases selected to receive the KC-46A tanker are experiencing job growth ranging from 100 to 350 direct jobs and specialized military construction project spending ranging from $42 million to $267 million.

The 305th Air Mobility Wing is the Joint Base’s main Active Duty United States Air Force component, specializing in global mobility and aerial refueling.

It supports the delivery of cargo and personnel to combatant commanders abroad, and the 514th Air Mobility (Reserve Component). Both units currently fly the KC-10 Extender. The New Jersey Air National Guard’s 108th Air Wing flies the KC-135 air refueling tanker.

The Joint Base currently operates a fleet of outdated and expensive planes known as 32 KC-10s. That fleet needed to be replaced, and failure to do so would’ve cost the Joint Base more than half its jobs, almost ensuring the base’s closure, Christie said.

So when the Air Force announced that is was moving forward with a replacement plan for its aging fleet of air refueling tankers, it was vital that the Joint Base be in the running.

It was among the final five bases nationwide that was under consideration to receive the tankers. Of the five bases, the Joint Base ranked highest in U.S. Air Force Scoring that examined each base’s military assets.

In 2015, Sen. Cory Booker wrote to Air Force Secretary Deborah James expressing his strong support for the Joint Base in hosting the KC-46, and had a follow-up conversation with Secretary James last November to reaffirm his support for the Joint Base’s designation.

Sen. Bob Menendez met in March with Air Force General Carlton Everhart, the commander of the Air Mobility Command, who has jurisdiction over the Joint Base, to stress the base’s strategic role and critical mission to our national and regional security.

In July, the senators led a delegation letter arguing to the Air Force that JBMDL was best positioned to host the KC-46As based upon its strategic location, existing assets and facilities, and ability to seamlessly and most cost-effectively transition from its current mission.

“Today is a great day for Air Mobility Operations at JBMDL and for New Jersey. I am very pleased by the Air Force’s decision to base the KC-46 refueling aircraft at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst,” Menendez said. “We have known all along that New Jersey is a prime location for this next generation refueling tanker, and this decision only improves JBMDL’s position as a premier power projection platform. I look forward to working with the Air Force to ensure that the hard working men and women of JBMDL continue to have the resources they need to execute their mission, and that JBMDL remains a vital economic engine for New Jersey. Today’s decision is a huge step in that direction.”

“I applaud the Air Force’s decision to designate Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst as a KC-46 Main Operating Base,” Booker said. “JBMDL’s strong track record in tanker and airlift operations, its prime location, and the thousands of military flight hours our service men and women perform each year ensures the base is the right choice for the KC-46. I was proud to work with my colleagues in advocating for this designation that will provide the Air Force with critical capability and bring jobs and economic opportunity to JBMDL and New Jersey.”

The U.S. Senators aren’t the only representatives who worked hard to bring the tankers to New Jersey.

When elected to Congress, Rep. Donald Norcross (D-1) requested to serve on the House Armed Services Committee, where he has led the fight to protect Joint Base McGuire–Dix–Lakehurst.

On Tuesday, he announced he would continue his commitment to the Joint Base and to strengthening our national security as a member of the committee.

“Today’s news marks the next chapter in the Joint Base’s outstanding service to America, and the future looks strong," Norcross said. “The hard-working men and women at the base represent the best of the best in New Jersey and the Air Force. Stationing the KC-46 fleet at Joint Base McGuire–Dix–Lakehurst is a recognition of the strategic importance of the base and New Jersey to our country’s national security. This will help protect the base from BRAC closure for years to come – leading to more jobs, greater economic growth and a stronger, safer nation.”

When he ran for office in 2014, Rep. Tom MacArthur (R-3) made it clear the Joint Base was a vital piece of the region’s economy, and he would fight to keep it open.

MacArthur and Norcross worked together to help the Joint Base’s fleet receive protections under the FY16 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

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 Christie recently discussed the need for the tanker with Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James.

MacArthur and Rep. Chris Smith (R-4) 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.

“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 Rep. 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.”

“This is great news not just for the Joint Base, but for all of New Jersey,” State Senator Diane Allen (R-Burlington) said. “The base is going to be an outstanding home for these new jets since it already has the infrastructure and facilities needed thanks to its existing contingent of older tanker aircraft. Joint Base MDL provides our state with thousands of great jobs, and that’s why I sponsored a resolution urging the Air Force and Congress to pick it as the new home for the KC-46s. This new mission will ensure the base remains a viable military installation for decades to come.”

The Joint Base is New Jersey’s second largest employer, supporting more than 40,000 military and civilian employees. It is the nation’s only tri-service joint installation, meaning it houses the Air Force, Army and Navy.

It contributes more than $7 billion annually to the state’s economy, including about $4.2 billion in gross domestic product and about $118.7 million in annual state tax revenues.

The attached image was provided by State Sen. Diane Allen.