Oklahoma a finalist for new Air Force training unit

ALTUS, Okla. — The U.S. Air Force has named Altus Air Force Base in southwestern Oklahoma as one of four finalists to become the formal training unit for the KC-46A aircraft.

Other finalists announced Wednesday for the training mission are Fairchild Air Force Base in Washington; Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota; and McConnell Air Force Base in Kansas.

The step is the first of three phases in which the KC-46A is to replace more than 400 KC-135 and 59 KC-10 aircraft that — among other things — have the capability to refuel other aircraft in flight. The Altus base provides training on the KC-135 aircraft as part of its mission.

The Air Force plans to announce its preferred and alternative sites for the KC-46A during the spring.

Oklahoma Senator Jim Inhofe is the ranking Republican member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and a big supporter of Oklahoma bases. Inhofe has fought to keep those bases open and active through his tenure in Washington.