Washington, DC-U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross (NJ-01) today announced New Jersey’s Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst has been named as a finalist for the U.S. Air Force’s new fleet of air refueling tankers, known as the KC-46.

“The next generation of air refueling tankers at New Jersey’s Joint Base would mean certainty for future generations of New Jerseyans, for our national security, and the state’s economy. This is a promising new development. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I will continue to fight to protect the Joint Base and new efforts to strengthen the base's role as one of our nation's most prominent and strategic military installations,” said Rep. Donald Norcross.

Rep. Norcross previously worked on bipartisan efforts with Rep. Tom MacArthur (NJ-03) to ensure the Joint Base would not be targeted by Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC). Rep. Norcross also advocated for other safeguards for the Joint Base, including its existing KC-10 program in the National Defense Authorization Act.

“When the Air Force rolls out this new fleet of military hardware, we’ll be at the front of the line waiting to show the country that we’re the best-equipped to manage this important new program in U.S. national defense. The tens of thousands of hard-working military & civilian families employed at and around our Joint Base are counting on this,” concluded Rep. Norcross.