The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today announced that Connecticut will benefit from an estimated $339 million in annual economic impact if the Boeing NewGen Tanker is selected as the U.S. Air Force's next aerial refueling aircraft.

"Our state's world-famous aerospace industry drives a significant part of the Connecticut economy. I'm glad that Boeing's tanker project will provide critical fuel to keep that economic engine running," said Connecticut Gov. Jodi Rell. "Thousands of families across the state depend on these high-technology aerospace jobs to put food on the table, pay their mortgages, and finance a college education for their children. Now they have a chance to support our troops abroad while growing our economy at home. At a time when many working families are struggling, that's very good news."

Connecticut manufacturers ready to produce critical components on the NewGen Tanker include:

• Eaton, Bethel -- sensors, indicators, meters and switches

• Hamilton Sundstrand, Windsor Locks -- electrical power generation system, environmental control system

• Microtech, Cheshire -- waveguides

• Pratt & Whitney, East Hartford and West Hartford -- engines

• Roller Bearing Co. of America, Fairfield and Torrington -- bearings

• United Tool & Die, West Hartford --metallic tube and duct assemblies.

Boeing currently works with 253 suppliers/vendors in Connecticut, resulting in an estimated $1.1 billion in annual economic impact.

The NewGen Tanker is a widebody, multi-mission aircraft based on the proven Boeing 767 commercial airplane and updated with the latest and most advanced technology. Capable of fulfilling the Air Force's needs for transport of fuel, cargo, passengers and patients, the combat-ready NewGen Tanker is being offered as a replacement for 179 KC-135 aircraft. Boeing is writing a proposal to meet or exceed the 372 mandatory requirements described in the service's final KC-X Request for Proposal released on Feb. 24. The Air Force is expected to award a contract later this year.

The NewGen Tanker will be made with a low-risk approach to manufacturing that relies on existing Boeing facilities in Washington state and Kansas as well as U.S. suppliers throughout the nation, with decades of experience delivering dependable military tanker and derivative aircraft. Nationwide, the NewGen Tanker program will support approximately 50,000 total U.S. jobs with Boeing and more than 800 suppliers in more than 40 states.

The Boeing NewGen Tanker also will be more cost-effective to own and operate than a larger, heavier tanker. It will save American taxpayers more than $10 billion in fuel costs over its 40-year service life because it burns 24 percent less fuel than the competitor's airplane.

Boeing has been designing, building, modifying and supporting tankers for decades. These include the KC-135 that will be replaced in the KC-X competition, and the KC-10 fleet. The company also has delivered four KC-767Js to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force and is on contract to deliver four KC-767s to the Italian Air Force. Three of the four Italian tankers are in flight test, with the fourth airplane in production.