N.J. base in running to get fleet of new tanker planes

Federal legislators have announced that a South Jersey military base is a finalist to host the next generation of the Air Force’s air-refueling tanker planes.

Joint Base McGuire-Fort Dix-Lakehurst is among five sites across the country under consideration to host the KC-46 aircrafts, which are expected to arrive by 2020.

The base overlaps Burlington and Ocean counties and employs approximately 42,000 New Jersey residents.

Other finalists in the running to host the Boeing-built planes include bases in Delaware, Washington, North Dakota and California.

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, a Hamilton Republican, said the winning base would receive up to 36 new tankers to replace the current fleet of 32 KC-10 Extenders.

The Pentagon is expected to make their decision after officials visit each of the finalist bases.