Statement from Rep. Norma Smith on Boeing winning Air Force tanker contract
The Air Force today awarded a $3.5 billion initial contract to Boeing for the production of 18 next-generation aerial refueling tankers. That is a down payment on a contract worth about $35 billion for 180 planes. Boeing estimated the contract would support thousands of jobs, and the company plans to build the aircraft in Everett, Wash. and Wichita, Kan.
Rep. Norma Smith, R-Clinton, issued the following statement:
“Today’s announcement is a great victory for our brave warfighters, American taxpayers, Washington state’s economy, and the hard working men and women of Boeing and Washington’s aerospace industry who build the best airplanes in the world.
“The Boeing KC46A Tanker provides our military the most capable aircraft at a very competitive price. When all the facts were fully vetted, Boeing’s tanker proposal won decisively. With the first eighteen planes to be delivered by 2017, this announcement means more than 11,000 direct and indirect jobs for Washington state, and more than 48,000 nationally.
“In his announcement today, the Secretary of the Air Force, Michael Donley, clearly stated the strong case for awarding the contract to Boeing which included capability, cost, fleet effectiveness, life cycle analysis and significant fuel savings. This contract represents a thirty billion dollar investment in our economy here in Washington state and around the nation. It is the right decision, and I am grateful for the hard work by so many to reach this outstanding conclusion.”
