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Fairchild to receive 12 additional KC-135s

  • Published
  • By By Capt. David Liapis
  • 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  Secretary of the Air Force, Heather Wilson, announced yesterday that Fairchild AFB has been selected to receive an additional 12 KC-135 Stratotankers, making it the largest tanker fleet in the Air Force with nearly 60 permanently assigned aircraft.

"Fairchild is the best choice for additional Air Force tankers," said Heather Wilson, Secretary of the Air Force. "It’s well placed to gas up aircraft going across the Pacific, and it has the facilities we need without a lot of construction, making it the lower-cost option for the taxpayer."

The increase in planes will bring an additional KC-135 air refueling squadron and aircraft maintenance unit with approximately 400 additional personnel.

“While we are excited about this opportunity to see the mission and capabilities of Fairchild Air Force Base expand, we are also mindful of the responsibility we have to our neighbors, community partners and the American people to be good stewards of our Airmen, resources and the environment,” said Col. Ryan Samuelson, Fairchild Air Force Base commander. “We are committed to doing all we can to ensure this positively affects our ability to provide global reach for American and allied air power while preventing or mitigating any potentially negative impacts due to the increase in operations.”

The additional KC-135s will come from McConnell AFB, where the legacy tanker is being replaced by the KC-46A Pegasus.

The direct economic impact, to the greater Spokane area, of these additional service members is expected to be more than $19.5 million per year. The force structure change is planned for fiscal year 2020 and personnel and equipment are expected to begin arriving in the summer of 2019.

“Fairchild is an acknowledged leader in strategic tanker operations and strives to be the Air Force’s ‘Air Refueling Center of Excellence.’ Through this mission increase, benchmark programs, unique talent and capabilities, and unmatched facilities, Team Fairchild leads the way for air refueling excellence,” said Samuelson. “It’s been the overwhelming support of our friends and neighbors in Airway Heights, Medical Lake and the entire Spokane area over the past 75 years who have been integral to the past, present and future success of this base.”