New Jersey Will Be First To Get New Air Force Tankers

As the U.S. Air Force begins planning the deployment of new airborne fuel tankers, the Garden State has been named as the first to get the next generation of refueling aircraft.

Earlier this week, the Air Force named Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst as the first destination for the brand new KC-46 Pegasus tankers.

The new planes will replace the Joint Base's fleet of KC-10 tankers, and operate alongside the existing fleet of KC-135 tankers and massive C-17 Globemaster III transport planes.

According to the Associated Press, New Jersey Representative Chris Smith said that the new fleet of 24 aircraft are expected to be delivered to the Joint Base in 2021, and will "protect thousands of jobs" at the base.

As of right now, the Air Force is putting the KC-46 Pegasus through rigorous testing at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

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