Shaheen Congratulates NH Air National Guard Following Delivery of Final KC-46 Refueling Tanker to Pease During Arrival Ceremony

Left: Shaheen speaks to Lt. General Michael Loh, Director of the Air National Guard, during the KC-46 arrival ceremony at Pease this afternoon. Right: Ceremony attendees tour Pease’s 12^th and final KC-46.

(Manchester, NH) – This afternoon, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) attended the ceremony for the delivery of the 12^th and final KC-46 refueling tanker to be stationed at the Pease Air National Guard Base. During the event, Shaheen was joined by Lieutenant General Michael Loh, Director of the Air National Guard and senior leadership from the New Hampshire Air National Guard and 157^th Air Refueling Wing. Shaheen congratulated the men and women stationed at Pease, which is the first operating base in the nation to receive its full complement of KC-46 tankers, and paid tribute to the 157^th Air Refueling Wing’s remarkable work over the years providing crucial logistical support to military operations around the world.

The KC-46 is the United States Air Force’s next-generation aerial refueling tanker, replacing the branch’s 1950’s-era aerial refueling fleet of KC-135s and intended to serve as the backbone of American air operations for decades to come. As a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Shaheen has fought to procure KC-46 refueling tankers through annual defense legislation. Thanks to strong advocacy by Senator Shaheen and the New Hampshire National Guard, Pease was selected as the Air Force’s first Air National Guard KC-46 main operating base, an economic benefit to Pease and the surrounding community. The last KC-135 departed Pease in March 2019 to make way for the KC-46. Shaheen participated in the arrival event for the first KC-46 to Pease in August that same year.

“Today’s arrival of the 12^th and final KC-46 refueling tanker at Pease is a tremendous accomplishment and a credit to the extraordinary men and women serving in the New Hampshire Air National Guard, the 157^th Air Refueling Wing and the entire New Hampshire National Guard,” said Shaheen. “The arrival of this aircraft will bolster the 157^th ARW’s ability to provide timely and critical logistical support to U.S. military operations around the world and further demonstrates New Hampshire’s important role in support of our national defense. I thank Lieutenant General Loh for being on hand this afternoon to celebrate this exciting moment and look forward to seeing these tankers flying over Portsmouth.”