Boeing KC-46
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The Boeing KC-46 Pegasus is an American military
aerial refueling Aerial refueling ( en-us), or aerial refuelling ( en-gb), also referred to as air refueling, in-flight refueling (IFR), air-to-air refueling (AAR), and tanking, is the process of transferring aviation fuel from one aircraft (the tanker) to an ...
and strategic
military transport aircraft A military transport aircraft, military cargo aircraft or airlifter is a military aircraft, military-owned transport aircraft used to support military operations by airlifting troops and military equipment. Transport aircraft are crucial to m ...
developed by
Boeing The Boeing Company, or simply Boeing (), is an American multinational corporation that designs, manufactures, and sells airplanes, rotorcraft, rockets, satellites, and missiles worldwide. The company also provides leasing and product support s ...
from its 767
jet airliner A jet airliner or jetliner is an airliner powered by jet engines (passenger jet aircraft). Airliners usually have twinjet, two or quadjet, four jet engines; trijet, three-engined designs were popular in the 1970s but are less common today. Air ...
. In February 2011, the tanker was selected by the
United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Air force, air service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is one of the six United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Tracing its ori ...
(USAF) as the winner in the KC-X tanker competition to replace older
Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker is an American military aerial refueling tanker aircraft that was developed from the Boeing 367-80 prototype, alongside the Boeing 707 airliner. It has a narrower fuselage and is shorter than the 707. Boeing gave ...
s. The first aircraft was delivered to the USAF in January 2019. The USAF intends to procure 179 tankers by 2027.


Development


Background

In 2001, the U.S. Air Force began a procurement program to replace around 100 of its oldest KC-135E Stratotankers, and selected Boeing's KC-767. The Boeing tanker received the ''KC-767A'' designation from the
United States Department of Defense The United States Department of Defense (DoD, USDOD, or DOD) is an United States federal executive departments, executive department of the federal government of the United States, U.S. federal government charged with coordinating and superv ...
in 2002 and appeared in the 2004 edition of DoD model designation report. The USAF decided to lease 100 KC-767 tankers from Boeing. U.S. Senator
John McCain John Sidney McCain III (August 29, 1936 – August 25, 2018) was an American statesman and United States Navy, naval officer who represented the Arizona, state of Arizona in United States Congress, Congress for over 35 years, first as ...
and others criticized the draft leasing agreement as being wasteful and problematic. In response to protests, the USAF struck a compromise in November 2003, whereby it would purchase 80 KC-767s and lease 20 more. In December 2003, the Pentagon announced a freeze on the program over an investigation into alleged corruption that led to the jailing of one of its former procurement executives who applied to work for Boeing. The KC-767A contract was canceled by the DoD in January 2006.


USAF KC-X program

In 2006, the USAF released a request for proposal (RFP) for a new tanker program, KC-X, to be selected by 2007. Boeing announced it may enter a higher capability tanker based on the
Boeing 777 The Boeing 777, commonly referred to as the Triple Seven, is an American long-range wide-body airliner developed and manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. The 777 is the world's largest twinjet and the most-built wide-body airliner. ...
, named the ''KC-777'' Strategic Tanker.
Airbus Airbus SE ( ; ; ; ) is a Pan-European aerospace corporation. The company's primary business is the design and manufacturing of commercial aircraft but it also has separate Airbus Defence and Space, defence and space and Airbus Helicopters, he ...
partnered with
Northrop Grumman Northrop Grumman Corporation is an American multinational Aerospace manufacturer, aerospace and Arms industry, defense company. With 97,000 employees and an annual revenue in excess of $40 billion, it is one of the world's largest Arms industry ...
to offer the
Airbus A330 MRTT The Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) is a European aerial refueling and military transport aircraft based on the civilian Airbus A330. A total of 15 countries have placed firm orders for approximately 82 aircraft, of which 64 had ...
, the tanker version of the
A330 The Airbus A330 is a wide-body airliner developed and produced by Airbus. Airbus began developing larger A300 derivatives in the mid–1970s, giving rise to the A330 twinjet as well as the Airbus A340 quadjet, and launched both designs alon ...
, which was marketed to the USAF under the designation ''KC-30''. In January 2007, the USAF issued the KC-X Aerial Refueling Aircraft RFP, calling for 179 tankers, four system development and demonstration and 175 production, in a contract worth an estimated US$40 billion (~$ in ). Northrop and EADS expressed dissatisfaction at how the RFP was structured and threatened to withdraw, leaving only Boeing in the running.Evens, Ben and Daly, Matthew (AP), "Northrop-EADS threatens to withdraw bid for US Air Force contract leaving only Boeing". ''Aerotech News and Review'', 2 February 2007. In February 2007, Boeing announced it was offering the KC-767 Advanced Tanker for the KC-X,Borak, D
"Boeing Unveils Air Force Tanker in $40 Billion Contract Competition"
.
Associated Press The Associated Press (AP) is an American not-for-profit organization, not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association, and produces news reports that are dist ...
. 12 February 2007.
stating that the KC-767 was a better fit than the KC-777 for the requirements. Air Force magazine, 13 February 2007. In April 2007, Boeing submitted its KC-767 tanker proposal to USAF. The KC-767 offered for this KC-X round was based on the in-development 767-200LRF (Long Range Freighter), rather than the -200ER on which Italian and Japanese KC-767 aircraft are based,"Boeing Offers KC-767 Advanced Tanker to U.S. Air Force"
. Boeing, 12 February 2007.
differing by combining the -200ER fuselage, -300F wing, gear, cargo door and floor, -400ER digital flightdeck and flaps, uprated engines, and "sixth-generation"
fly-by-wire Fly-by-wire (FBW) is a system that replaces the conventional aircraft flight control system#Hydro-mechanical, manual flight controls of an aircraft with an electronic interface. The movements of flight controls are converted to electronic sig ...
fuel delivery boom. Boeing submitted its final proposal in January 2008. In February 2008, the DoD chose the KC-30 over the KC-767, the USAF subsequently designated it KC-45A.Butler, Amy, Fulghum, Davis A and Wall, Robert
"Northrop/EADS Clinches U.S. Refueler Deal"
''Aviation Week'', 29 February 2008.
Boeing submitted a protest to the United States
Government Accountability Office The United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) is an independent, nonpartisan government agency within the legislative branch that provides auditing, evaluative, and investigative services for the United States Congress. It is the s ...
(GAO) in March 2008 and waged a public relations campaign in support of their protest. In June, after USAF admissions on bidding process flaws, the GAO upheld Boeing's protest and recommended the contract be rebid. In July 2008,
Defense Secretary The United States secretary of defense (acronym: SecDef) is the head of the United States Department of Defense (DoD), the executive department of the U.S. Armed Forces, and is a high-ranking member of the federal cabinet. DoDD 5100.1: Enclosu ...
Robert Gates Robert Michael Gates (born September 25, 1943) is an American intelligence analyst and university president who served as the 22nd United States secretary of defense from 2006 to 2011. He was appointed by President George W. Bush and retained b ...
announced that the USAF would reopen bidding, and put the contract into an "expedited recompetition" with Defense Undersecretary John Young in charge of the selection process, not the USAF.Kruzel, John J
"Pentagon Reopens Bidding on Tanker Contract"
. US DoD, 9 July 2008.
A draft of the revised RFP was provided to contractors in August 2008 for comments. However, in September 2008, the DoD canceled the KC-X solicitation."DoD Announces Termination of KC-X Tanker Solicitation"
. US DoD, 10 September 2008.
In September 2009, the USAF began a new round of bids with a clearer set of criteria, including reducing the number of requirements from 800 to 373 in an attempt to simplify the process and allow a more objective decision to be made. In March 2010, Boeing announced it would bid the KC-767 for the new KC-X round. EADS stated in April 2010 it would submit a bid without Northrop Grumman as a U.S. partner. Boeing submitted its KC-767 "NewGen Tanker" bid, based on the 767-200 with an improved version of the
KC-10 The McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender is an American tanker and cargo aircraft that was operated by the United States Air Force (USAF) from 1981 to 2024. A military version of the three-engine DC-10 airliner, the KC-10 was developed from the Adv ...
's refueling boom, and cockpit displays from the 787, in July 2010. Boeing submitted a revised bid in February 2011. In addition to the KC-X, observers speculate that a modified KC-46 would be used as the basis of the
KC-Y KC-X was the United States Air Force (USAF) program to Government procurement in the United States, procure its next-generation aerial refueling tanker aircraft to replace some of their older Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers. The contest was for a p ...
tanker program, the second step of the USAF's three-step tanker renewal plan, as replacing it with something entirely new would likely be too big a risk. In September 2016,
Air Mobility Command The Air Mobility Command (AMC) is a List of Major Commands of the United States Air Force, Major Command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force, U.S. Air Force. It is headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, east of St. Louis, Missouri, ...
stated that the follow-on ''KC-Y'' acquisition program to replace the remaining KC-135s had been abandoned in favor of further KC-46s with upgrades.


Selection and early development

In February 2011, the USAF announced the selection of Boeing's KC-767 bid, which was designated ''KC-46A''. Boeing was awarded a development contract, which called for the delivery of 18 initial operational KC-46s by 2017. The USAF sought a total of 179 new tankers. In June 2011, development costs were reportedly projected to overrun by about $300 million (~$ in ). Boeing would be responsible for this amount, which exceeds the contract cost cap of $4.9 billion. In July 2011, revised projections indicated a reduced cost overrun. In 2013, the USAF added additional crews and flight hours to their future plans in response to a review that showed that the best of current plans did not take full advantage of the KC-46's cargo and aeromedical evacuation advantages over the KC-135. In August 2013, Boeing and the USAF completed a
critical design review In the United States military integrated acquisition lifecycle the technical section has multiple acquisition technical reviews. Technical reviews and audits assist the acquisition and the number and types are tailored to the acquisition. Overall ...
(CDR) for the KC-46. With the CDR complete, the design was set and production and testing could proceed. Wing assembly for the first aircraft began in June 2013. Flight testing of the 767-2C airframe, which would be reconfigured into the KC-46, was scheduled to begin in mid-2014. The first fully equipped KC-46 was projected to fly in early 2015. The contract called for Boeing to build four test aircraft and deliver 18 combat-ready tankers by August 2017. The USAF intended to buy 179 KC-46s, with all delivered by 2028. In December 2013, Boeing joined the wings and fuselage for the first 767-2C to be adapted into a KC-46A. The first of four 767-2C provision freighters were to complete assembly by the end of January 2014. Once assembled, it would go through ground vibration and instrumentation testing and have body fuel tanks added. The first test flight would occur during summer 2014 and include measuring its rate of climb and descent. The Engineering Manufacturing and Design (EMD) model was to be integrated with the needed systems and technologies to become a military-standard KC-46A by January 2015. Seven low-rate production KC-46s were to be delivered in 2015, 12 in 2016, and 15 delivered annually from 2017 to 2027."First KC-46A Baseline Test Aircraft Due This Month"
. DoDBuzz.com, 12 January 2014
The last of four test aircraft began assembly in January 2014. In April 2014, the GAO found that the KC-46 program was projected to underrun its projected cost estimate of $51.7 billion by $300 million. The program acquisition unit cost per jet will be $287 million, $1.8 million less than estimated. The GAO noted that delays in training air crew and maintainers could cause testing to slip 6–12 months, but stated that the program had not missed any major milestones and that the development of about 15.8 million lines of software code was progressing as planned. In May 2014, the USAF estimated the development program's cost, including the first four aircraft, could rise from $4.4–4.9 billion to $5.85 billion. In July 2014, Boeing recorded a $272 million pre-tax charge to cover the tanker's wiring redesign. The wiring issue arose when it was found that 5-10% of the wiring bundles did not have sufficient separation distance or were not properly shielded to meet a USAF requirement for double or triple-redundant wiring for some mission systems. In September 2014, it was confirmed that the wiring redesign would delay the first 767-2C flight from June 2014 to November 2014. In March 2015, the program cost to develop and procure 179 tankers was projected to total US$43.16 billion (~$ in ).


Flight tests and delays

The 767-2C's first flight took place on 28 December 2014. It flew from
Paine Field Seattle Paine Field International Airport — also known as Paine Field and Snohomish County Airport — is a commercial and general aviation airport serving the Seattle metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Washington. It is located in uni ...
and landed at
Boeing Field King County International Airport , commonly Boeing Field, is a public airport owned and operated by King County, Washington, King County, south of downtown Seattle, in the U.S. state of Washington (state), Washington. The airport is sometimes r ...
. In March 2015, a refueling test with a
C-17 The McDonnell Douglas/Boeing C-17 Globemaster III is a large military transport aircraft developed for the United States Air Force (USAF) between the 1980s to the early 1990s by McDonnell Douglas. The C-17 carries forward the name of two previ ...
transport was stopped because of a higher-than-expected boom axial load while delivering fuel. The problem was caused by the turbulent "bow wave effect" generated by two large aircraft flying in line. In January 2016, the KC-46 successfully refueled an
F-16 The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is an American single-engine supersonic multirole fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force (USAF). Designed as an air superiority day fighter, it e ...
for the first time during a five hour 36 minute sortie. Test refueling of several other military aircraft followed, including a C-17,
F/A-18 The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet is an all-weather supersonic, twinjet, twin-engine, carrier-based aircraft, carrier-capable, Multirole combat aircraft, multirole combat aircraft, designed as both a Fighter aircraft, fighter and attack airc ...
,
A-10 The Fairchild Republic A-10 , also infamously known under the nickname , is a single-seat, twin-turbofan, straight-wing, subsonic attack aircraft developed by Fairchild Republic for the United States Air Force (USAF). In service since 19 ...
, and AV-8B. In February 2016, a KC-46 refueled an F/A-18, using its probe-and-drogue system for the first time. In July 2015, Boeing announced a further $835 million (~$ in ) pretax charge for the faulty integrated fuel system's redesign and retrofit. Wiring and fuel system flaws could delay contracts worth $3 billion for up to eight months. Following schedule revisions agreed by the USAF and Boeing, the first flight of a fully equipped KC-46 was delayed to as late as September 2015. The Bank of America/Merrill Lynch noted in July 2015 "We fail to understand how Boeing could take a $1.26 billion (~$ in ) pre-tax charge (since it won the contract over Airbus) on the Boeing KC-46A program since the program is based on the 767 airframe that has been in production for over 30 years." In March 2016, the
Defense Contract Management Agency The Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) is an agency of the United States federal government reporting to the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment. It is responsible for administering contracts for the Department of ...
reportedly had low confidence in the August 2017 deadline, predicting the first 18 tankers' delivery to run about seven months late based on past performance and current risks, such as production delays, a new joint USAF-Boeing schedule review, and flight test uncertainties. The Pentagon's test office was to start combat testing in April 2017. An April 2016 GAO report projected an additional four months beyond the August 2017 target to deliver 18 KC-46s, and that operational testing will not begin until May 2017 and will not be completed until two months after delivery of the first 18 aircraft, risking late discoveries of problems. The GAO noted that Boeing had not obtained
Federal Aviation Administration The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is a Federal government of the United States, U.S. federal government agency within the United States Department of Transportation, U.S. Department of Transportation that regulates civil aviation in t ...
's approval for two key aerial refueling systems—the centerline drogue system and the wing aerial refueling pods, which were built without following FAA processes—Boeing projected readiness for FAA certification by July 2017, over three years late. The 18 KC-46s were to include the four EMD aircraft raised to operational standards, plus the first 14 low-rate production tankers. Instead, 16 of the 18 were off the production line. Boeing was liable for all late design fixes on tankers delivered before testing ended. In April 2016, the fourth test aircraft, 767-2C EMD-3, first flew. EMD-3 focused on environmental control systems, including temperature and smoke penetration testing. Two days later, Boeing took another pre-tax charge of $243 million for cost overruns, bringing the total amount paid for tanker cost overruns to $1.5 billion. Boeing president and chief executive
Dennis Muilenburg Dennis A. Muilenburg (born 1964) is an American engineer, business executive and a former president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Boeing, a multinational aerospace and defense company. He was CEO from 2015 to 2019, when he was fired in th ...
stated that 80% of the test points required for a positive Milestone C decision had been completed. Flight testing helped determine whether a refueling fault could be resolved by either software or hardware changes, which Boeing worked on in parallel. In May 2016, a further delay of at least six months due to technical and supply chain issues was reported, potentially requiring program re-structuring and cuts. At the time, only 20% of the flight tests were completed. In June 2016, USAF spokesman Maj. Rob Leese confirmed that, while the contract with Boeing lacked predefined delay penalties, not delivering the 18 certified KC-46s by August 2017 is a contract schedule breach, and that the USAF would receive considerations from Boeing in the schedule re-baseline after the RRA delay. In July 2016, US Defense Acquisitions Chief Frank Kendall confirmed that the tanker program office was studying the delay's cost to the USAF, and that it was entitled to consideration for losses from operating the KC-135 for longer than planned. On 8 June 2016, Boeing's defense unit CEO,
Leanne Caret Leanne Caret (born 18 November 1966) is an American businesswoman, former president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security (BDS), former executive vice president of Boeing, and serves on the United Service Organizations (USO) board of gover ...
, reported that a modified boom would be flown shortly. On 10 July 2016, Caret reported positive results from early flight tests with the revised boom. On 21 July 2016, Boeing took a further $393 million charge on the program, bringing the total value of penalties to almost $1.9 billion. The charge reflected higher costs associated with the schedule and technical challenges, such as the boom axial load issue, delays in the certification process and concurrency between testing and initial production. The initial 18 KC-46s were equipped with the boom and centerline drogue, but not the wing-mounted wing-aerial refueling pods (WARP) needed for full contractual Required Assets Available, they were delivered separately later. On 5 July 2016, USAF spokesman Daryl Mayer stated that, despite the testing delays, Milestone C approval was expected in the following month, and that Boeing would add a fifth EMD aircraft to accelerate testing. EMD-1 and EMD-3 primarily conducted flight tests towards FAA airworthiness certificates, while EMD-2 and EMD-4 focused on USAF aerial refueling and mission system testing. An F-16 was successfully refueled on 8 July, and a C-17 on 12 July 2016. Once the hardware fix is verified, a KC-46 with the updated boom underwent regression testing on the F-16, followed by refueling demonstrations with the C-17 and A-10 for the final test for Milestone C approval. On 15 July 2016, the KC-46 successfully refueled an A-10, offloading 1,500 pounds of fuel at 15,000 feet. At the time, more than 900 flight test hours have been completed by the five EMD aircraft. On 12 August 2016, the program received Milestone C approval, indicating production readiness. The issuing of contracts for two lots covering 19 aircraft was expected within 30 days. In January 2018, Air Mobility Command stated that tests for final FAA certification were roughly 94 percent complete. Boeing announced its FAA certification in September 2018, with military certification outstanding. Aircraft refueled during testing include the F-16, F/A-18, AV-8B, C-17, A-10,
KC-10 The McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender is an American tanker and cargo aircraft that was operated by the United States Air Force (USAF) from 1981 to 2024. A military version of the three-engine DC-10 airliner, the KC-10 was developed from the Adv ...
,
KC-135 The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker is an American military aerial refueling tanker aircraft that was developed from the Boeing 367-80 prototype, alongside the Boeing 707 airliner. It has a narrower fuselage and is shorter than the 707. Boeing gave ...
and the KC-46 itself. In January 2019, a KC-46 from the
418th Flight Test Squadron The 418th Flight Test Squadron is a United States Air Force squadron. It is assigned to the 412th Operations Group, Air Force Materiel Command, stationed at Edwards Air Force Base, California. The first predecessor of the squadron, the 418 ...
at
Edwards AFB Edwards Air Force Base (AFB) is a United States Air Force installation in California. Most of the base sits in Kern County, but its eastern end is in San Bernardino County and a southern arm is in Los Angeles County. The hub of the base is Edwa ...
made connection with an F-35A, the occasion being the first time that the KC-46 connected with a
fifth-generation jet fighter A fifth-generation fighter is a Jet fighter generations, jet fighter aircraft classification which includes major technologies developed during the first part of the 21st century. these are the most advanced fighters in operation. The characteri ...
. Completion of refueling certification of the F-35 by the KC-46 was announced by the
412th Test Wing The 412th Test Wing (412 TW) is a wing of the United States Air Force, assigned to the Air Force Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base, California. Overview The 412th Test Wing plans, conducts, analyzes, and reports on all flight and ground tes ...
in June 2019. In March 2020, the USAF announced that chronic leaks in the fuel system had been upgraded to a Category I deficiency. The USAF identified the issue in June 2019, but had not originally believed it to be serious. Crews became aware of the issue when they discovered fuel between the primary and secondary fuel protection barriers. There was no known root cause at the time of the announcement. By January 2021, Boeing's losses on the program were estimated at $5 billion (~$ in ).Reim, Garrett
"Boeing delivers 14 KC-46A tankers in 2020, receives contract for a dozen more"
Flight Global FlightGlobal is an online news and information website which covers the aviation and aerospace industries. The website was established in February 2006 as the website of ''Flight International'' magazine, ''Airline Business'', ''ACAS'', ''Air ...
, 13 January 2021.
At the time, it was expected that the KC-46 would not be combat ready until at least late 2023.


Design

KC-46 Pegasus is a variant of the Boeing 767, a widebody, low-wing cantilever monoplane with a conventional
empennage The empennage ( or ), also known as the tail or tail assembly, is a structure at the rear of an aircraft that provides stability during flight, in a way similar to the feathers on an arrow.Crane, Dale: ''Dictionary of Aeronautical Terms, third ed ...
featuring a single fin and rudder. It is equipped with a retractable
tricycle landing gear Tricycle gear is a type of aircraft undercarriage, or ''landing gear'', that is arranged in a tricycle fashion. The tricycle arrangement has one or more nose wheels in a single front undercarriage and two or more main wheels slightly aft of th ...
and a hydraulic flight control system. The aircraft is powered by two Pratt & Whitney PW4062 engines, one mounted under each wing. The KC-46 incorporates elements from multiple 767 variants, combining the fuselage of the 767-200ER with the wing, landing gear, cargo door, and floor of the 767-300F, along with the flaps of the 767-400ER. Its
glass cockpit A glass cockpit is an aircraft cockpit that features an array of electronic (digital) flight instrument display device, displays, typically large liquid-crystal display, LCD screens, rather than traditional Analog device, analog dials and gauges ...
is based on that of the 787 Dreamliner, featuring three large
LCD A liquid-crystal display (LCD) is a flat-panel display or other electronically modulated optical device that uses the light-modulating properties of liquid crystals combined with polarizers to display information. Liquid crystals do not em ...
screens from
Rockwell Collins Rockwell Collins, Inc. was a multinational corporation headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, providing avionics and information technology systems and services to government agencies and aircraft manufacturers. It was formed when the Collins Radi ...
. The KC-46 also utilizes a
Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System The Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) is a flight stabilizing feature developed by Boeing that became notorious for its role in two fatal accidents of the Boeing 737 MAX, 737 MAX in 2018 and 2019, which killed all 346 pass ...
(MCAS) similar to the one involved in the two 737 MAX crashes. However, unlike the 737 MAX, the KC-46's MCAS receives input from dual redundant angle of attack sensors and automatically disengages if the pilot applies stick input. Due to concerns over this system, the U.S. Air Force began reviewing KC-46 pilot training procedures in March 2019. The aircraft can operate with as little as three crew members—two pilots and a boom operator. The boom operator station is located just behind the flight deck in an area called the crew compartment, which also contains eight airline style crew seats, three crew rest bunks, a
galley A galley is a type of ship optimised for propulsion by oars. Galleys were historically used for naval warfare, warfare, Maritime transport, trade, and piracy mostly in the seas surrounding Europe. It developed in the Mediterranean world during ...
, and a lavatory, supporting long-duration missions. In total, including jumpseats, the aircraft can accommodate up to 15 crew members. The aircraft is FAA-certified to transport up to 58 passengers in the rear fuselage using palletized seating similar to that of the C-17, along with a galley/lavatory pallet and passenger baggage loaded onto a cargo pallet. Boeing states that in contingency operations, the aircraft could accommodate up to 114 passengers. In an all-cargo configuration, the KC-46A can carry up to of cargo across 18 pallets. When configured for aeromedical evacuation, it can transport 54 patients—including 24 on litters—along with a crew of five, consisting of two flight nurses and three medical technicians, who are seated in the forward crew compartment during takeoff and landing. For quick access from the ground, a retractable ladder near the front landing gear can be deployed. The KC-46A can carry of fuel, 10 percent more than the KC-135. Its survivability is enhanced with
infrared countermeasures An infrared countermeasure (IRCM) is a device designed to protect aircraft from infrared homing ("heat seeking") missiles by confusing the missiles' infrared guidance system so that they miss their target (electronic countermeasure). Heat-see ...
and limited electronic warfare capabilities. The aircraft features manual flight controls, ensuring unrestricted maneuverability to evade threats throughout its
flight envelope In aerodynamics, the flight envelope, service envelope, or performance envelope of an aircraft or spacecraft refers to the capabilities of a design in terms of airspeed and load factor or atmospheric density, often simplified to altitude. The ...
. At the rear of the KC-46 is a refueling boom, complemented by wing-mounted
drogue A drogue or storm drogue is a device trailed behind a boat on a long line attached to the stern. A drogue is used to slow the boat down in a storm and to prevent the hull (watercraft), hull from becoming side-on to the water waves, waves. A boa ...
pods and a centerline drogue system under the rear fuselage, enabling both boom and drogue refueling in a single mission. The boom initially used a hydraulic relief valve system, similar to those on the KC-10 and KC-767, to reduce excessive axial pressure. However, to resolve a "stiff boom" issue, which prevented refueling of lightweight, thrust-limited aircraft like the A-10, Boeing replaced the actuator with a pressure-flow PQ valve.Hadley, Greg
(4 Jan 2022) "Boeing Works to Solve KC-46 Deficiencies, One by One"
airandspaceforces.com
Unlike traditional tankers, where a single boom operator is positioned at the tail with a direct line of sight, the KC-46 features two Aerial Refueling Operator Stations (AROS) just behind the flight deck. Having two AROS provides redundancy and makes it easier to train new boom operators. The AROS receives imagery from the Remote Vision System (RVS). Images from by multispectral cameras are displayed on three screens, while a central 2D/3D display provides a rear-facing view. The system, which requires stereoscopic glasses for optimal effectiveness, enables refueling operations in complete darkness with both aircraft blacked out. However, the RVS has encountered issues such as depth compression and curvature distortions affecting motion perception. The upcoming RVS 2.0 upgrade will address these problems with enhanced cameras and a full-color high-definition display to improve depth perception. Despite these issues, the KC-46 provides improved automation and stability, according to airmen from the
2nd Air Refueling Squadron The 2nd Air Refueling Squadron, sometimes written as 2d Air Refueling Squadron, is a unit of the United States Air Force. It is part of the 305th Air Mobility Wing at McGuire Air Force Base, part of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey. ...
.


Operational history


United States

In April 2014, the USAF announced that the KC-46 will be based at
McConnell Air Force Base McConnell Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located four miles (6 km) southeast of the central business district of Wichita, a city in Sedgwick County, Kansas, United States., effective 2007-12-20 The airbase was named in ...
in
Wichita, Kansas Wichita ( ) is the List of cities in Kansas, most populous city in the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Sedgwick County, Kansas, Sedgwick County. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population of the city was 397, ...
, with an optimistic expectation of receiving the first of 36 tankers in 2016. McConnell AFB was chosen because it had low construction costs and it is in a location with a high demand for air refueling, having KC-135s based there. In addition to McConnell AFB serving as the home base, up to 10 operating bases will be used by the KC-46. Crews will be trained at
Altus Air Force Base Altus Air Force Base (Altus AFB, AAFB) is a United States Air Force base located approximately east-northeast of Altus, Oklahoma. The host unit at Altus AFB is the 97th Air Mobility Wing (97 AMW), assigned to the Nineteenth Air Force (19 AF ...
, Oklahoma, which was also chosen for its limited construction needs and for its existing experience with training programs for the
C-17 Globemaster The McDonnell Douglas/Boeing C-17 Globemaster III is a large military transport aircraft developed for the United States Air Force (USAF) between the 1980s to the early 1990s by McDonnell Douglas. The C-17 carries forward the name of two previ ...
and the KC-135. In October 2015, the USAF announced that
Seymour Johnson Air Force Base Seymour Johnson Air Force Base is a United States Air Force (USAF) base located in Goldsboro, North Carolina. The base is named for U.S. Navy Lt. Seymour A. Johnson, a test pilot from Goldsboro who died in an F4F Wildcat crash near Norbeck, Mary ...
, North Carolina, was chosen as the preferred alternative for the first Reserve-led KC-46A main operating base, with an anticipated arrival of the KC-46As at Seymour Johnson in fiscal year 2019.
Tinker Air Force Base Tinker Air Force Base is a major United States Air Force base, with tenant U.S. Navy and other Department of Defense missions, located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, adjacent to Del City and Midwest City. The ba ...
, Oklahoma;
Westover Air Reserve Base Westover Air Reserve Base is an Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) installation located in the Massachusetts communities of Chicopee and Ludlow, near the city of Springfield, Massachusetts. Established at the outset of World War II, today Westo ...
, Massachusetts; and
Grissom Air Reserve Base Grissom Air Reserve Base is a United States Air Force base, located about north of Kokomo, Indiana, Kokomo in Cass County, Indiana, Cass and Miami County, Indiana, Miami counties in Indiana. The facility was established as a U.S. Navy installa ...
, Indiana, were named as the reasonable alternatives. The October 2015 announcement also stated that the USAF intended to initiate an Environmental Impact Analysis Process (EIAP), which the USAF would use to make its final basing decisions. On 10 January 2019, the USAF took delivery of the first KC-46, well past the original 2016 delivery date, albeit with two issues outstanding and funds withheld. The two outstanding issues were inadequate boom pressure when refueling the A-10 and glare induced distortion under certain conditions in the remote vision system (RVS). The USAF acknowledged that they failed to give Boeing adequate specifications for the A-10. At milestone C, Boeing gave the USAF a boom design that used the international standard of 1400 lbs of thrust resistance, which they accepted, but the A-10 is only able to generate 650 lbs. On 25 January 2019, the
22d Air Refueling Wing The 22d Air Refueling Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Mobility Command's Eighteenth Air Force. It is stationed at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas and also functions as the host wing for McConnell. Its primary missi ...
at McConnell AFB received its first two KC-46As (''15-46009'' and ''17-46031''). In February 2019, the
97th Air Mobility Wing The 97th Air Mobility Wing (97 AMW) is a United States Air Force (USAF) unit assigned to Nineteenth Air Force of Air Education and Training Command. It is stationed at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma. The wing is also the host unit at Altus. It ...
at Altus AFB received its first KC-46. In April 2019, it was confirmed that the USAF halted all deliveries on 23 March and until further notification, as loose material and debris were found in planes already delivered. In August 2019, the
157th Air Refueling Wing The 157th Air Refueling Wing (157 ARW) is a unit of the New Hampshire Air National Guard, stationed at Pease Air National Guard Base, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, United States. If activated to federal service, the Wing is gained by the United S ...
at
Pease Air National Guard Base Pease Air National Guard Base is a New Hampshire Air National Guard base located at Portsmouth International Airport at Pease in New Hampshire. It occupies a portion of what was once Pease Air Force Base, a former Strategic Air Command facility ...
received its first KC-46A. In September 2019, the USAF restricted the KC-46 from carrying cargo and passengers due to an issue with the floor cargo locks unlocking mid-flight. A fix was approved by the USAF in November 2019 and were retrofitted upon delivered aircraft. By 20 December 2019, four KC-46As had received new cargo locks and the USAF had closed the Category 1 deficiency and cleared retrofitted aircraft for cargo and passenger operations. In June 2020, the
916th Air Refueling Wing The 916th Air Refueling Wing is an Air Reserve Component (ARC) of the United States Air Force. It is assigned to the Fourth Air Force, Air Force Reserve Command, stationed at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina. If mobilized, the ...
at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base received its first KC-46A. By January 2021, Boeing had delivered 42 KC-46As to the USAF and was on contract for 94 tankers.Reim, Garrett
''Boeing wins $2.1bn for 15 more KC-46A tankers, points to battle communications role''
Flight Global FlightGlobal is an online news and information website which covers the aviation and aerospace industries. The website was established in February 2006 as the website of ''Flight International'' magazine, ''Airline Business'', ''ACAS'', ''Air ...
, 22 January 2021.
In early 2021, the USAF cleared the KC-46 for limited operational use. The type can conduct U.S.-based refueling only, requiring other tankers for deployments to combat areas. At the time, the KC-46 could refuel the B-52, F-15, F-16, and F/A-18, but it was not approved to service the A-10, F-22, F-35, B-1, or B-2. It was expected to be fully combat-ready by 2023.Despite growing pains, KC-46 tanker will begin 'limited operations'
''
Defense News ''Defense News'' is a website and newspaper about the politics, business, and technology of national security published by Sightline Media Group. Founded in 1986, ''Defense News'' says it serves an audience of senior military, government, and in ...
''. 25 February 2021.
During September 2022, the USAF approved the KC-46 for general operational use, closing out a 15-month evaluation period. In late June 2024 the USAF completed a 45 hour non-stop flight around the globe as part of Project Magellan. The flight took off and landed at McConnell Air Force Base. During the flight it was refueled a couple of times, while it refueled other operational aircraft at various places around the world.


Japan

The
Japan Air Self-Defense Force The , , also referred to as the Japanese Air Force, is the Aerial warfare, air and space warfare, space branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, responsible for the defense of Japanese airspace, other air and space operations, cyberwarfare and ...
(JASDF) operates four of the earlier Boeing KC-767 tankers that were delivered from 2008 to 2010. In October 2015, Japan selected the KC-46, with a contract for three tankers expected in 2016. The decision allows for common operations and training with the USAF. Japan was reportedly attracted to its capability to refuel
MV-22 Osprey The Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey is an American multi-use, tiltrotor military transport aircraft, military transport and cargo aircraft with both vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) and short takeoff and landing (STOL) capabilities. It is designed ...
tiltrotor A tiltrotor is an aircraft that generates lift (force), lift and thrust, propulsion by way of one or more powered Helicopter rotor, rotors (sometimes called ''proprotors'') mounted on rotating shaft (mechanical engineering), shafts or nacelles ...
s, which the JASDF is to receive. Airbus declined to bid its A330 MRTT as they viewed Japan's request for proposals as intended for the KC-46. The three tankers were to be fielded around 2020 at a cost of more than ¥20.8 billion, about US$173 million (~$ in ) per aircraft. An order for a third and fourth KC-46 was placed in October 2020. Japan ordered two additional KC-46s in December 2022, bringing Japan's order total to six. In February 2021, the JASDF conducted its first KC-46 flight. Training of Japanese KC-46 pilots began in June 2021 and Japan received its first KC-46 in November 2021.


Export bids


Indonesia

In January 2018,
Indonesian Air Force The Indonesian Air Force (, sometimes shortened as IDAF / IdAF) is the Air force, aerial branch of the Indonesian National Armed Forces. The Indonesian Air Force is headquartered in Jakarta, Indonesia, and is headed by the Chief of Staff of th ...
officials were reported as saying they were studying both the Airbus A330 MRTT and KC-46 tankers for a future modernization program, expected to take place after the current
Airbus A400M Atlas The Airbus A400M AtlasNamed after the Greek mythological figure. is a European four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft. It was designed by Airbus Military, now Airbus Defence and Space, as a tactical airlifter with strategic capa ...
program completes. The Indonesian Air Force was said to be comparing the tankers on compatibility with the force's current aircraft, life-cycle costs, interoperability with current and future assets, and potential funding and technology transfer options with state-owned aircraft manufacturer
Indonesian Aerospace Indonesian Aerospace (IAe) (), is an Indonesian aerospace company involved in aircraft design and the development and manufacture of civilian and military regional commuter aircraft, and a subsidiary of state-owned electronics manufacturer . Th ...
.


Israel

In March 2020, the
State Department The United States Department of State (DOS), or simply the State Department, is an executive department of the U.S. federal government responsible for the country's foreign policy and relations. Equivalent to the ministry of foreign affairs o ...
approved the Foreign Military Sale to
Israel Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in West Asia. It Borders of Israel, shares borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the north-east, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the south-west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Isr ...
of eight KC-46s and related equipment for a cost of $2.4 billion (~$ in ). In February 2022, the United States and Israel signed an agreement to supply KC-46s to replace the aging fleet of Israeli tankers. In September 2022, Boeing announced Israel had purchased four KC-46s for delivery in 2025. The contract includes provisions to enable Israel to potentially purchase a further four KC-46s.


Turkey

In May 2025, it was reported that Turkey was in negotiations with both Boeing and Airbus regarding a potential replacement for its aging fleet of KC-135R Stratotankers. The
Turkish Air Force The Turkish Air Force () is the Air force, air and space force of the Turkish Armed Forces. It traces its origins to 1 June 1911 when it was founded as the Ottoman Aviation Squadrons, Aviation Squadrons by the Ottoman Empire. It was composed ...
is evaluating the KC-46A Pegasus and the Airbus A330 MRTT. An official from ASFAT, Turkey’s military factory and shipyard management company, noted that each platform offers distinct advantages: the KC-46A aligns with Turkey's familiarity with U.S. Air Force maintenance practices, while the A330 MRTT provides broader aeromedical evacuation capabilities


Italy

In November 2022, it was reported that Italy was negotiating the purchase of six KC-46s, to be designated KC-767B locally, after deciding to forgo modernization work on the current fleet of four KC-767As. The purchase could have included logistics support for the KC-46A fleet for a period of five years. The total cost of the contract would have been approximately €1.12 billion. Italy's four KC-767As were to have been sold to Boeing. In July 2024, Italy "halted" the acquisition of the KC-46 due to "changed and unforeseen needs" and started the procedure to procure a new tanker, possibly from another vendor.


Failed bids


Canada

In February 2017, Boeing stated it would bid the KC-46A for the
Royal Canadian Air Force The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; ) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environmental commands within the unified Can ...
's Strategic Tanker Transport Capability competition, which is to replace Canada's fleet of
CC-150 Polaris The Airbus CC-150 Polaris is the designation for the civilian Airbus A310-300s which have been converted into multi-purpose, long-range jet aircraft for passenger, freight or medical transport and mid-air refueling for the Royal Canadian Air F ...
tankers. The contract was valued at C$1.5+ billion. In April 2021,
Airbus Defence and Space Airbus Defence and Space is a division of Airbus SE. Formed in 2014 in the restructuring of European Aeronautic Defence and Space (EADS), Airbus SE comprises the former Airbus Military, Astrium, and divisions. Contributing 21% of Airbus reven ...
with its submission of the A330 MRTT was deemed the only qualified bidder to replace the CC-150.


India


Korea

In June 2014, Boeing submitted the KC-46 for the
Republic of Korea Air Force The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF; ), also known as the ROK Air Force or South Korean Air Force, is the Air force, aerial and Space force, space warfare service branch of South Korea, operating under the Ministry of National Defense (South K ...
's requirement for four aerial tankers. The KC-46 competed with the Airbus A330 MRTT. South Korea selected the Airbus A330 MRTT in June 2015.


Poland

Boeing pitched the KC-46 to the
Polish Air Force The Polish Air Force () is the aerial warfare Military branch, branch of the Polish Armed Forces. Until July 2004 it was officially known as ''Wojska Lotnicze i Obrony Powietrznej'' (). In 2014 it consisted of roughly 26,000 military personnel an ...
for its tanker requirement. In December 2014, Airbus was awarded a contract for four A330 MRTTs from a consortium of Poland, the Netherlands, and Norway.


United Arab Emirates

In May 2019, according to Boeing, the
United Arab Emirates The United Arab Emirates (UAE), or simply the Emirates, is a country in West Asia, in the Middle East, at the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is a Federal monarchy, federal elective monarchy made up of Emirates of the United Arab E ...
made a formal request to procure three KC-46As. In November 2021, the United Arab Emirates ordered two more Airbus A330 MRTTs for a total of five.


Operators

; *
Israeli Air Force The Israeli Air Force (IAF; , commonly known as , ''Kheil HaAvir'', "Air Corps") operates as the aerial and space warfare branch of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). It was founded on May 28, 1948, shortly after the Israeli Declaration of Indep ...
– 4 aircraft on order, out of 8 planned ; *
Japan Air Self-Defense Force The , , also referred to as the Japanese Air Force, is the Aerial warfare, air and space warfare, space branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, responsible for the defense of Japanese airspace, other air and space operations, cyberwarfare and ...
– 4 aircraft delivered; 2 more ordered in 2022. In September 2024, Japan was authorized by the
U.S. State Department The United States Department of State (DOS), or simply the State Department, is an executive department of the U.S. federal government responsible for the country's foreign policy and relations. Equivalent to the ministry of foreign affairs ...
to purchase a further 9 aircraft, subject to a contract being signed. ; *
United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Air force, air service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is one of the six United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Tracing its ori ...
– 89 aircraft delivered, out of 179 planned **
Air Force Materiel Command The Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) is a Major Command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force (USAF). AFMC was created on July 1, 1992, through the amalgamation of the former Air Force Logistics Command (AFLC) and the former Air Force System ...
***
412th Test Wing The 412th Test Wing (412 TW) is a wing of the United States Air Force, assigned to the Air Force Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base, California. Overview The 412th Test Wing plans, conducts, analyzes, and reports on all flight and ground tes ...
Edwards AFB Edwards Air Force Base (AFB) is a United States Air Force installation in California. Most of the base sits in Kern County, but its eastern end is in San Bernardino County and a southern arm is in Los Angeles County. The hub of the base is Edwa ...
, California ****
418th Flight Test Squadron The 418th Flight Test Squadron is a United States Air Force squadron. It is assigned to the 412th Operations Group, Air Force Materiel Command, stationed at Edwards Air Force Base, California. The first predecessor of the squadron, the 418 ...
**
Air Education and Training Command The Air Education and Training Command (AETC) is one of the nine List of major commands of the United States Air Force, Major Commands (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force (USAF), reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force. It was esta ...
***
97th Air Mobility Wing The 97th Air Mobility Wing (97 AMW) is a United States Air Force (USAF) unit assigned to Nineteenth Air Force of Air Education and Training Command. It is stationed at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma. The wing is also the host unit at Altus. It ...
Altus AFB Altus Air Force Base (Altus AFB, AAFB) is a United States Air Force base located approximately east-northeast of Altus, Oklahoma. The host unit at Altus AFB is the 97th Air Mobility Wing (97 AMW), assigned to the Nineteenth Air Force (19 ...
, Oklahoma ****
56th Air Refueling Squadron The 56th Air Refueling Squadron is an active unit of the United States Air Force. It is part of the 97th Operations Group at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma. It operates Boeing KC-46 Pegasus aircraft, conducting initial and advanced aircrew t ...
**
Air Mobility Command The Air Mobility Command (AMC) is a List of Major Commands of the United States Air Force, Major Command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force, U.S. Air Force. It is headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, east of St. Louis, Missouri, ...
***
22d Air Refueling Wing The 22d Air Refueling Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Mobility Command's Eighteenth Air Force. It is stationed at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas and also functions as the host wing for McConnell. Its primary missi ...
– McConnell AFB, Kansas ****
344th Air Refueling Squadron The 344th Air Refueling Squadron is a unit of the US Air Force, part of the 22d Air Refueling Wing of Air Mobility Command at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas. It operates the Boeing KC-46 Pegasus aircraft conducting aerial refueling missions. ...
*** 60th Air Mobility Wing
Travis AFB Travis Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base under the operational control of Air Mobility Command (AMC), located three miles (5 Kilometre, km) east of the central business district of the city of Fairfield, California, Fairfield, i ...
, California ****
6th Air Refueling Squadron The 6th Air Refueling Squadron is part of the 60th Air Mobility Wing at Travis Air Force Base, California. It operates the McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender aircraft conducting mobility, and air refueling missions. The 6th Air Refueling Squadr ...
****
9th Air Refueling Squadron The 9th Air Refueling Squadron is an active United States Air Force unit, stationed at Travis Air Force Base, California, where it operates the McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender as part of the 60th Operations Group. The squadron was first ac ...
***
305th Air Mobility Wing The 305th Air Mobility Wing is a United States Air Force strategic airlift and air refueling wing under the operational control of the Air Mobility Command. It generates, mobilizes and deploys C-17 Globemaster III and KC-46A Pegasus aircraft. ...
McGuire AFB McGuire AFB/McGuire, the common name of the McGuire unit of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, is a United States Air Force base in Burlington County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, approximately south-southeast of Trenton. McGuire is unde ...
, New Jersey ****
2nd Air Refueling Squadron The 2nd Air Refueling Squadron, sometimes written as 2d Air Refueling Squadron, is a unit of the United States Air Force. It is part of the 305th Air Mobility Wing at McGuire Air Force Base, part of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey. ...
****
32nd Air Refueling Squadron The 32nd Air Refueling Squadron is part of the 305th Air Mobility Wing at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey. It operates the Boeing KC-46A Pegasus aircraft conducting air refueling missions. The squadron is one of the oldest in the ...
****
911th Air Refueling Squadron The 911th Air Refueling Squadron is part of the 305th Operations Group, and is stationed at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina. The squadron was the Air Force's first active duty squadron under the command of a reserve wing. In Oc ...
– Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina (active duty associate to the 916th Air Refueling Wing) **
Air Force Reserve Command The Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) is a MAJCOM, major command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force, with its headquarters at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. It is the federal Air Reserve Component (ARC) of the U.S. Air Force, consisting of ...
***
916th Air Refueling Wing The 916th Air Refueling Wing is an Air Reserve Component (ARC) of the United States Air Force. It is assigned to the Fourth Air Force, Air Force Reserve Command, stationed at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina. If mobilized, the ...
Seymour Johnson AFB Seymour Johnson Air Force Base is a United States Air Force (USAF) base located in Goldsboro, North Carolina. The base is named for U.S. Navy Lt. Seymour A. Johnson, a test pilot from Goldsboro who died in an F4F Wildcat crash near Norbeck, Mary ...
, North Carolina **** 77th Air Refueling Squadron **
Air National Guard The Air National Guard (ANG), also known as the Air Guard, is a Reserve components of the United States Armed Forces, federal military reserve force of the United States Air Force, as well as the air militia (United States), militia of each U.S. ...
***
108th Wing The 108th Wing is a unit of the New Jersey Air National Guard, one of the many units stationed at the McGuire Air Force Base entity of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey. If activated to federal service, the Wing is gained by the Un ...
(associate) –
McGuire AFB McGuire AFB/McGuire, the common name of the McGuire unit of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, is a United States Air Force base in Burlington County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, approximately south-southeast of Trenton. McGuire is unde ...
, New Jersey ****
141st Air Refueling Squadron The 141st Air Refueling Squadron (141 ARS) is a unit of the New Jersey Air National Guard 108th Wing located at McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey. The 141st is currently an "embedded classic associate" with the 305th Air Mobility Wing, fly ...
****
170th Air Refueling Squadron The 170th Air Refueling Squadron (170 ARS) is a unit of the New Jersey Air National Guard's 108th Wing located on the McGuire AFB entity of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey. The 170 ARS is equipped with the Boeing KC-46A Pegasus. ...
***
157th Air Refueling Wing The 157th Air Refueling Wing (157 ARW) is a unit of the New Hampshire Air National Guard, stationed at Pease Air National Guard Base, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, United States. If activated to federal service, the Wing is gained by the United S ...
Pease ANGB, New Hampshire ****
133rd Air Refueling Squadron The 133rd Air Refueling Squadron (133 ARS) is a unit of the New Hampshire Air National Guard 157th Air Refueling Wing located at Pease Air National Guard Base, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, United States. The 133rd, which previously operated the K ...


Specifications


See also


References


External links

*
Boeing.com Feature story on KC-46A contract award
* {{Italian military aircraft
KC-46 The Boeing KC-46 Pegasus is an American military aerial refueling and strategic military transport aircraft developed by Boeing from its 767 jet airliner. In February 2011, the tanker was selected by the United States Air Force (USAF) as the ...
Twinjets Air refueling Boeing 767 Low-wing aircraft Aircraft first flown in 2015 Aircraft with retractable tricycle landing gear 2010s United States military tanker aircraft