Hatch Disappointed By Decision to End Air Tanker Competition

Press Release

HATCH DISAPPOINTED BY DECISION TO END AIR TANKER COMPETITION

Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), co-chairman of the Senate Tanker Caucus, expressed disappointment at the Defense Department's decision today to end the competition between Boeing and Northrop Grumman for a new Air Force tanker.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates notified Congress, Boeing and Northrop Grumman today that the department is ending the current competition to replace the military's aging KC-135 tanker aircraft, opting to leave that decision to the next U.S. president and his administration.

Hatch was dismayed by the decision.

"While I respect the Defense Department's decision, I am disappointed," Hatch said. "The fact is that the KC-135, the mainstay of our tanker fleet, is old and not getting any younger. It has held up admirably during its half-century of service, but it is unreasonable to expect it to hold up forever. It also is unfair to our brave men and women in uniform, who should be able to count on having the best, safest and most-advanced equipment we can deliver. Our government can do more, and the American people expect nothing less than our best."

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