The U.S. Air Force said Fairchild Air Force Base is one of five finalists to receive the next round of KC-46A Pegasus air refueling tankers.

Other bases on the short list are Dover Air Force Base, in Delaware; Grand Forks Air Force Base, in North Dakota; Travis Air Force Base, in California; and Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, in New Jersey.

 The Air Force will begin conducting on-site surveys of each of the five candidate bases and expects to select one by the end of this year. The successful base would receive the new tankers during the 2020 fiscal year.

Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James said in a press release, “The KC-46A Pegasus aerial tanker remains one of our top acquisition priorities.”

In response to the Air Force’s announcement, Spokane Mayor David Condon said, “Today is a great next step for Fairchild Air Force Base and Spokane. The city remains a strong advocate for Fairchild, its critical role in the defense or our nation, and importance as a regional asset and economic driver.”

Spokane County commissioners also issued a statement in support of the decision.

Fairchild had been a candidate to receive the first round of KC-46A in 2014, but the Air Force opted to station the new tankers at McConnell Air Force Base, in Kansas.