Full Funding For Air Force Tanker Approved

The Armed Services Committee approved a $612.5 billion defense authorization bill that includes full funding for the Air Force’s KC-45 tanker which will be built in Mobile.

“This is great news for the tanker project,” U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions said.

The Air Force announced February 29th that it chose Northrop Grumman/EADS over Boeing to built the tankers. Since then, the decision has been at the center of a political firestorm. Boeing and several lawmakers on Capitol Hill claim the competition was not fair. Boeing filed a protest with the Government Accountability Office, which has until mid-June to release its findings.

Critics, including Congressman Todd Tiahrt (R-Kansas) and Norm Dicks (D-Washington), have suggested they would attempt to defund the tanker program rather than allow the GAO to confirm the Air Force’s selection.

If Northrop Grumman/EADS keep the $40 billion contract, the tanker will be built at Brookley Field.

“I am pleased that the Committee refrained from interfering with the GAO’s independent review of the tanker competition and moved to fully fund this vital program,” Sessions said. “I will continue to work to ensure that Congress follows the lead of the Armed Services Committee and respect the review process that is established by law. Doing so will ensure that our men and women in the military get the best tanker available.”