WASHINGTON, DC—Members of the Kansas Congressional Delegation are asking the Air Force to support a new high-priority modernization project in its fiscal year 2010 budget that would support hundreds of aircraft jobs in the Wichita area. Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS), Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Congressman Todd Tiahrt (R-Goddard) sent a letter to Secretary Michael Donley this week asking the Air Force to modernize the fourth and final E-4B National Airborne Operations Center aircraft.

The E-4B fleet is an airborne command and control center for the President and Secretary of Defense for use during a national crisis. Roberts, Brownback and Tiahrt successfully convinced the Air Force to modernize the third E-4B. That work is being completed this year by Boeing Wichita. Boeing said the E-4B modernization project supports approximately 240 workers at the height of the program.

"As a former Marine, I know the command control centers are vital to operations," Senator Roberts said. "We are asking the Air Force to keep their word to fund the fleet of four E-4B aircraft. Wichita is proud to play an important role in the modernization of these planes for this program that executes and coordinates national emergences actions."

"The fleet of E-4Bs provides invaluable service to top decision-makers in times of crisis," said Brownback. "Top officials need full access to the best technology available in an emergency, which is why modernizing the fourth and final E-4B is so important."

"Using advanced technologies, modification work on the E-4B has been achieved thanks to the skilled aviation workforce we have in South-central Kansas," said Tiahrt. "We are asking the Air Force to proceed with the modification work on the fourth E-4B aircraft that will help protect our homeland during a crisis and will translate to hundreds of jobs in the greater Wichita area."

In case of a national emergency or destruction of ground command control centers, the E-4B fleet provides a highly survivable, command, control and communications center to direct U.S. forces, execute emergency war orders and coordinate actions by civil authorities.

The following is the full text of the letter:

Dear Secretary Donley:

We express our thanks and extend our support for last year’s decision to maintain a fleet of four E-4B National Airborne Operations Center aircraft. This fleet is a highly survivable command, control and communications center that has great value and utility to the warfighter and senior decision-makers.

As the Air Force develops its Fiscal Year 2010 budget, the Kansas delegation brings to your attention our concern that current funding has only allowed for the modernization of three of the four E-4B aircraft. We are standing by to support any new start or reprogramming requests to facilitate efforts to modernize the fourth E-4B. We hope you agree that having a single configuration of the E-4B strengthens military utility and operational capabilities. Our delegation includes a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, and we are all pleased to lend our support with all relevant congressional defense committees.

The fleet of E-4Bs has a proud history of supporting our nation. The outstanding engineering and technical workforce in south-central Kansas is proud to maintain and modernize these aircraft. We look forward to working with the Air Force to ensure that this important fleet remains capable and relevant for years to come.

Senator Brownback
Senator Roberts
Congressman Tiahrt

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