Courtney Applauds Pentagon Decision Awarding $35 Billion Tanker Contract to Boeing

Press Release

Congressman Joe Courtney today applauded the Air Force's decision to award Boeing with a $35 billion contract to build 179 new refueling tankers. As part of the agreement, Pratt & Whitney will supply parts and two engines -- which will be assembled in Middletown -- for each plane.

"Today's decision is a victory for our region's workforce, Connecticut's industrial base and the American taxpayer," said Congressman Courtney. "After a decade of twists and turns, the Pentagon today showed great leadership and got this decision right. We can finally move forward with confidence that Boeing and Pratt & Whitney will build the next generation of tanker, and that they won that responsibility fairly. For generations, Pratt & Whitney has aided our military readiness by producing high-quality, reliable, cost-effective results. With today's announcement, that tradition continues."

Today's announcement comes on the heels of last week's vote in the House of Representatives to eliminate $450 million in funding for the F136 alternate engine for the Joint Strike Fighter. That decision will save taxpayers up to $3 billion over the next several years and, according to Pratt, means long-term security for an estimated 4,250 Connecticut workers at the company and its local suppliers.

Congressman Courtney is Connecticut's sole representative on the House Armed Services Committee, which has oversight over Department of Defense procurement programs like the KC-X tanker replacement. As a member of that committee, Courtney has been a strong critic of the Defense Department's handling of the tanker contract.

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