Senators Lankford, Inhofe, Governor Stitt, Congressman Lucas Welcome Delivery of Altus’ First KC-46

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Governor Kevin Stitt, and Congressman Frank Lucas (R-OK) celebrated the delivery of the second KC-46 in the country and the first delivery for a training mission today. Altus Air Force Base is home to the training mission for the KC-46 tanker, the next generation of aerial refueling, and maintenance will be done at Tinker Air Force Base near Oklahoma City.

“I am honored today to join my colleagues, Senator Inhofe and Rep. Lucas, to welcome the KC-46A Pegasus tanker home to Altus Air Force Base,” said Lankford. “Altus already provides vitally important training on the KC-135 and the C-17, and the addition of the KC-46A will ensure the Air Force can meet its mission to fly, fight and win for years to come. The Base and the community of Altus have been preparing for the KC-46A’s arrival for years, so this is a huge day for the Airmen and women and civilians who serve our nation. This is certainly an exciting day for the entire state of Oklahoma. I want to specifically thank Senator Inhofe for his tireless work on behalf of the Base as Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Congratulations to Altus Air Force Base, the men and women who serve there, and the Altus community on this momentous day in Air Force history.”

“Today’s delivery of the KC-46 marks the beginning of a new, long-awaited chapter for Altus Air Force Base and all of Oklahoma. I want to thank the community of Altus, current and former base commanders and all military and civilian leaders who worked tirelessly to make today possible,” Inhofe said. “This is more than just the start of a new mission for Altus and Tinker—it clearly demonstrates that Oklahoma is home to the future of the Air Force. That isn’t accidental, it is the result of a highly skilled workforce, excellent base leadership and the impressive community support for our military.” 

“We are thankful for Senator Jim Inhofe’s unwavering dedication to the people of Oklahoma and his hard work to secure the KC-46 unit in our state,” said Stitt. “The arrival of the KC-46A Tanker at the Altus Air Force Base ushers in a new era of advanced refueling capabilities for our air mobility fleet. Today’s arrival is a significant benefit to our entire state, as the training will take place in Altus and the maintenance of this aircraft will take place in Oklahoma City at Tinker. This mission will provide economic benefits and quality jobs for Oklahoma for many years to come.”

“I am excited to be part of this historic moment for Altus Air Force Base,” said Lucas. “Altus has a proven track record for training pilots on the KC-135 and C-17. With the addition of the KC-46A, Altus is on the forefront of the Air Force’s modernization effort. The Altus community has always rallied around the base, and because of that support, the base has been able to thrive and become an essential part of the Air Force’s mission.”

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