New Jersey's joint military base will find out later this year if it will be home to the U.S. Air Force's new fleet of refueling tankers.

Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst is now one of five finalists being considered to house the tankers, known as KC-46, U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross (NJ-01) said Thursday. The tankers are due for delivery in 2020.

Representatives from the Pentagon will visit each of the bases named as finalists. Additional bases are located in Delaware, Washington, California and North Dakota. Military officials are expected to make their decision in December. If selected, New Jersey's Joint Base could receive about 36 new tankers, which would replace the current fleet of 32 KC-10 Extenders.

“The next generation of air refueling tankers at New Jersey’s Joint Base would mean certainty for future generations of New Jerseyans, for our national security, and the state’s economy," Norcross said in a statement Thursday. "This is a promising new development. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I will continue to fight to protect the Joint Base and new efforts to strengthen the base's role as one of our nation's most prominent and strategic military installations."

The Joint Base employs more than 40,000 residents of New Jersey and the surrounding area.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Toniann Antonelli is a social content producer for NJ 101.5. She can be reached at toniann.antonelli@townsquaremedia.com, or on Twitter @ToniRadio1015.

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