Boeing has been awarded a $2.38 billion contract to produce 15 additional KC-46A Pegasus tankers for the US Air Force under the Lot 11 procurement. This contract adds to Boeing’s existing global agreements for a total of 168 KC-46A multi-mission aerial refuelers, which serve both the US military and international allies.
“This is another significant milestone for our team, and we look forward to delivering the world’s most advanced multi-mission aerial refuelers for years to come,” said Lynn Fox, vice president and KC-46 program manager at Boeing.
As of now, Boeing has delivered 89 KC-46A aircraft to the US Air Force, along with four units to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, which has a total order of six KC-46As. Additionally, Boeing is contracted to supply four KC-46As to the Israel Air Force, valued at $927 million.
The KC-46 Pegasus, manufactured on the 767 production line in Everett, Washington, is based on the 767-2C commercial aircraft. In 2011, Boeing secured a contract for the KC-X program, placing an order for 179 KC-46 Pegasus tankers to modernize the USAF fleet of aerial refuelers, thereby replacing the KC-135 Stratotanker and KC-10 Extender while reinforcing the thinly stretched refueling capacities of the USAF.
The Pegasus serves as a strategic asset for the USAF and is capable of performing aerial refueling, cargo transport and medical evacuation missions. However, the aircraft has encountered several technical challenges since its introduction, raising concerns about its reliability during operational missions.
Boeing will likely compete in a second tender by the USAF, known as KC-Y, that will involve the procurement of 75 additional aircraft, also based on a commercial airframe.