The Air Force's decision to award a contract worth $30 billion-$40 billion over 10 to 15 years to build 179 refueling tankers in Mobile will have an enormous impact on Alabama, an impact that could be felt as far as Montgomery.

"To say this is a great day for Alabama is a monumental understatement," Gov. Bob Riley said Friday. "This will go down in history as one of our greatest days."

The contract to Northrop Grumman and its Paris-based partner, European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co., to build the Air Force's KC-X Aerial Refueling Tanker could create an estimated 2,000 jobs.

Although it's too early to tell what impact a contract like that could have on Montgomery, the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce isn't ruling out that it may have one.

"It is such a huge contract that it could have suppliers all the way up here," said Joe Greene, vice president of military affairs for the Chamber. "We are not sure what kind of impact it might have."

The effect on Montgomery may not be known, but there is no question about the impact the contract will have on the state.

"This contract will change the landscape of south Alabama," said U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Tuscaloosa. "Our state is on a roll economically and the tanker contract adds to the growing momentum.

U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Mobile, called it a decision that is not just a huge investment in the state, but "a clear endorsement of our state's workforce."