U.S. Rep Michael Guest and Sens. Cindy Hyde-Smith and Rodger Wicker reaffirmed their support for Meridian to receive the KC-46 mission at Key Field during a roundtable discussion with business leaders Tuesday, March 26, at the MSU Riley Center.
The KC-46, which is the U.S. Air Force’s next generation of aerial refueling tankers, is set to replace the aging KC-135 tankers currently in service at Key Field’s 186th Air Refueling Wing. Although the military has done a great job of keeping its planes maintained, Guest said, the KC-135 platforms were designed in the 1950s and need to be retired.
“I will tell you that the Air Force and our men and women in the National Guard have done a wonderful job maintaining that plane,” he said. “That plane has new engines, it has new electronics, but they’re flying on a platform that was manufactured 60 plus years ago.”
The 186th ARW is one of just a handful of installations that can host the longer, taller and wider KC-46 without major renovations and is on the short list of sites being considered for the new plane.
Guest, who visited Key Field in September to meet with community leaders about the KC-46 mission, said bringing the new planes to Meridian is the congressional delegation’s top priority.
Meridian Airport Authority President Tom Williams said the airport is united in securing the KC-46 mission for Key Field, and everyone involved is working to make that happen.
“It is from the absolute top to the absolute bottom at the airport that everyone is aligned in doing the right things and saying the same thing and focusing on one thing, and that is winning and getting the KC-46 in Meridian,” he said.
Also supporting the effort are the city of Meridian, Lauderdale County, the state legislature and a host of business and community leaders.
In addition to the 186th ARW continuing its role in supporting ongoing missions, Guest said getting the KC-46 would also bring an active duty element to Key Field. That would mean approximately 100 families moving to the area, as well as other service members visiting for training and other purposes.
“I want each of you to know that that is our top priority and that priority will not only support the military mission here, but that’s a priority that, if we’re successful, is going to bring economic development,” he said.
A lot of hard work has gone into getting the KC-46 to Meridian, Williams said, but with luck, Guest, Wicker, and Hyde-Smith will be back within the next year to announce the Air Force’s decision.