ATLANTA – State Representative Teri Anulewicz (D-Smyrna), along with a bipartisan group of state legislators from Cobb County, recently submitted a letter to Georgia’s U.S. senators urging the federal government to use a fair and open, value-based competition for a next-generation aerial refueling tanker for the U.S. Air Force. Lockheed Martin’s Marietta facility has designed a next-generation fuel tanker that could produce thousands of jobs for Georgians if Lockheed is selected by the U.S. Department of Defense.
“The men and women of Lockheed Martin’s Marietta facility have an unmatched record of building true workhorse aircraft for the United States military,” said Rep. Anulewicz. “These aircraft match cutting-edge technology with a high level of reliability, and I am 100 percent confident our team there can win this work if they are only given a chance to compete.”
“Putting fuel in aircraft is core to our mission of supporting our land, air and naval forces wherever they are deployed around the globe,” said State Senator Kay Kirkpatrick (R-Marietta). “This critical mission deserves an adequate platform, and I am proud to stand behind our Lockheed team’s proposal and advocate for a value-based, fair and transparent competition to make sure we get the best, most affordable possible solution.”
The U.S. Air Force is currently using a short-term aerial refueling tanker solution, the KC-46, which has been challenged with cost overruns and operational limitations resulting from technical flaws. These Cobb County legislators urge the Department of Defense to utilize a next-generation aerial refueling tanker, the LMXT, designed by Lockheed Martin. The LMXT would be assembled at Lockheed Martin’s Marietta manufacturing facility and could create more than 1,000 well-paying jobs for Georgia manufacturing workers. As such, these legislators seek to utilize this opportunity for Georgia companies and their workforce to showcase the manufacturing prowess of the state, drawing on the experience and talents of a high-tech workforce that has proven itself as a leader in aviation.
Lockheed Martin has designed the LMXT in partnership with Airbus and has offered this tanker for the KC-Y “Bridge Tanker” program competition. Lockheed Martin’s new platform seeks to significantly expand support capability for American forces in both national defense and humanitarian relief scenarios. These state legislators believe that advancing with a competition would create an opportunity for a superior, more capable refueling tanker to replace the aging KC-135 tankers.
The letter was signed by State Representatives Erick Allen (D-Smyrna), Teri Anulewicz (D-Smyrna), John Carson (R-Marietta), Sharon Cooper (R-Marietta), Sheila Jones (D-Atlanta), Don Parsons (R-Marietta), Devan Seabaugh (R-Marietta), Ed Setzler (R-Acworth), Erica Thomas (D-Austell), David Wilkerson (D-Powder Springs), Mary Frances Williams (D-Marietta) and State Senators Kirkpatrick (R-East Cobb) and Michael Rhett (D-Powder Springs).
Representative Teri Anulewicz represents the citizens of District 42, which includes portions of Cobb County. She was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2017 and currently serves on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Human Resources and on the Code Revision, Intragovernmental Coordination and Transportation committees.
Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick serves as Chair of the Veterans, Military and Homeland Security Committee. She represents the 32nd Senate District which includes portions of East Cobb and Sandy Springs. She may be reached by phone at 404.656.3932 or by email at kay.kirkpatrick@senate.ga.gov.
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