Press Releases
Larsen, Estes Call for Full Acquisition of 18 Aerial Refueling Tankers
Washington, DC,
May 1, 2018
Yesterday, Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) and Rep. Ron Estes (KS-04) led a letter to the House Armed Services Committee and the House Appropriations Committee Defense Subcommittee leadership requesting authorization and appropriations for the procurement of 18 KC-46A aerial refueling tankers in 2019. “The KC-46A tanker is being built by the best aerospace workers in the world, the women and men at Boeing’s Everett factory,” said Larsen. “I am proud to support them and the nation’s servicemembers who will rely on this critical aircraft to provide advanced air refueling capability.” “One of my top priorities is making sure our military has the tools they need to succeed, including the best and safest aircraft for the Airmen at McConnell Air Force Base,” said Rep. Estes. “Securing this funding is a big win for McConnell, our community and our country. I am committed to continuing our efforts to fund additional KC-46 aircraft and rebuild our military.” Larsen and Estes were joined by 48 bipartisan members on the letter. Read the full text here and below: April 27, 2018 The Honorable Mac Thornberry Chair House Armed Services Committee 2120 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 The Honorable Adam Smith Ranking Member House Armed Services Committee 2120 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 The Honorable Kay Granger Chair House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee H-405, The Capitol Washington, D.C. 20515 The Honorable Peter Visclosky Ranking Member House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee 1016 Longworth House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Chairs and Ranking Members: After nearly 40 years, the United States Air Force is on the brink of receiving a new aerial refueling tanker – the KC-46A Pegasus. This is a welcomed development for the Nation’s warfighters, and we ask for your support in the Fiscal Year 2019 defense bills. As you know, the Air Force is replacing the current tanker fleet of Eisenhower-era KC-135s and Reagan-era KC-10s. These aircraft have been the cornerstone of the refueling mission, but the advanced age of the KC-135s has begun to undermine the fleet’s readiness and availability. The Air Force requires the multi-functional capability that the KC-46A will offer. The new platform will provide aerial refueling to U.S. and coalition aircraft via a more modern refueling boom and hose and drogue systems. It will bring the latest tools to detect, avoid, defeat and survive threats, and it can deploy worldwide in any operational environment, designed to transport not just fuel but cargo, passengers, and patients while performing aeromedical evacuation missions. As the Committees consider annual authorization and appropriations, we respectfully urge you to support the procurement of 18 tankers. The defense Committees have been a steward of taxpayer funding during this program’s development under a fixed price contract. The Committees can support the Air Force even further by maintaining steady procurement in this fiscal year. Our nation’s tanker fleet is the cornerstone of any operation that requires aerial assets. However, the current, aging fleet is in dire need of both new and additional assets, and we ask for your continued strong support for KC-46A tankers in the Fiscal Year 2019 Defense Authorization and Appropriations bills. We look forward to working with you throughout the year on this issue of national security. Thank you for your consideration of our request. Sincerely, Rick Larsen Ron Estes Nanette Diaz Barragán Robert A. Brady Anthony G. Brown Salud O. Carbajal Wm. Lacy Clay Chris Collins Paul Cook Charlie Crist Rosa L. DeLauro Suzan DelBene Eliot Engel Adriano Espaillat Elizabeth Esty Marcia L. Fudge John Garamendi Denny Heck Brian Higgins Lynn Jenkins Walter B. Jones Marcy Kaptur Peter T. King Steve Knight Ann McLane Kuster John Larson Frank LoBiondo Dave Loebsack Alan Lowenthal Frank D. Lucas Roger W. Marshall Thomas MacArthur Brian J. Mast Cathy McMorris Rodgers Grace Napolitano Donald Norcross Jimmy Panetta John Ratcliffe Dave Reichert David Rouzer Bobby L. Rush Steve Russell Kurt Schrader Pete Sessions Carol Shea-Porter Christopher H. Smith Thomas R. Suozzi Mark Takano Glenn “GT” Thompson Dina Titus |