The North Dakota Congressional delegation doesn’t intend to let up in its drive to secure some of the Air Force’s new tanker aircraft, meeting again this week with key Air Force leaders. Sen. Kent Conrad (D) said the meetings “confirmed the Air Force’s desire to expand [the base’s] responsibility,” including exciting opportunities presented by the new [unmanned aerial vehicle] mission and the new tanker mission.” (The Air Force hasn’t yet publicly declared that Grand Forks will get the new tanker, but Conrad earlier said he had promises.) Sen. Byron Dorgan (D) also expressed confidence that the new UAV mission would secure a future for the base and claimed it had a “good shot” at getting tankers.
When the Air Force sets a new program baseline for the B-52 re-engining this fall, there will be “some” cost increase, because the project wasn't previously fully funded, and the Air Force has a better handle on actual supplier costs and knowledge from ground testing, program officials said.