MacDill Air Force Base will not receive new KC-46 tankers in the initial roll out, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor learned today, but Castor was assured by U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff that the Air Mobility mission and KC-135 tankers at MacDill will endure for many years, if not decades. Instead, the candidate bases are located in Oklahoma, North Dakota, Kansas and Washington State – all existing large bases with larger fleets than MacDill.

Castor, who organized the MacDill Means Mobility community effort with the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce and others, noted that additional tankers will be assigned in future years and that the community will continue advocating for MacDill to receive the next generation of air refueling tankers in future roll outs.

Castor, in a phone call with Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh, was told that the KC-135 tankers will remain an Air Force priority for decades. MacDill is home to many KC-135 refueling Stratotankers. Congress has authorized the replacement of these tankers over future decades.

“We came together as a community to champion the strengths of MacDill and advocate for new jobs and economic opportunities,” Castor said. “We knew we had tough competition. Fortunately, the Air Force is committed to the current Air Mobility and tanker mission at MacDill and the existing KC-135 planes are a priority. That’s good news for MacDill’s future and for our local economy. Some bases will not be so lucky.”

Three bases, including only one active duty base, will receive the initial fleet of 179 KC-46 tankers. Ultimately, over the next 20 years or more 400 total new tankers will be sited on bases. Castor and other community leaders launched a MacDill Means Mobility campaign last year to showcase the base’s strengths.

“The Air Force will rely on hundreds of existing KC-135s, including those based at MacDill, as a vital part of the air mobility fleet for decades,” Castor said.  “I will continue to advocate for jobs and economic opportunities tied to the missions at MacDill Air Force Base. MacDill Air Force Base and our community remain well-situated for economic expansion whether it’s under a long-term continuation of the KC-135 tankers, new KC-46 or other new missions."

The Air Force evaluated 54 active Air Force sites in the continental United States.