U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross (D-NJ) has announced that Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in south central New Jersey 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 for new efforts to strengthen the base’s role as one of our nation’s most prominent and strategic military installations,” Norcross said.
According to a press release, Norcross previously worked with Rep. Tom MacArthur (R-NJ) to ensure the Joint Base would not be targeted by Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC). Norcross also advocated for other safeguards for the Joint Base, including its existing KC-10 program in the National Defense Authorization Act, according to the press release.
“When the Air Force rolls out this new fleet of military hardware, we will be at the front of the line waiting to show the country that we are the best-equipped to manage this important new program in U.S. national defense. The tens of thousands of hard-working military and civilian families employed at and around our Joint Base are counting on this,” Norcross said.
