Boeing has secured a $2.38 billion contract from the U.S. Air Force for 15 additional KC-46A Pegasus tankers under a Lot 11 award, bringing the total number of aircraft on contract globally to 168 units.
The latest procurement comes as the KC-46A achieved a significant operational milestone in October, marking its first full-scale operational deployment following the Air Mobility Command’s 2022 approval for global combat operations.
“We appreciate our continued partnership with the U.S. Air Force,” said Lynn Fox, vice president and KC-46 program manager at Boeing. “This is another big milestone for our team, and we look forward to delivering the world’s most advanced multi-mission aerial refuelers for years to come.”
The multi-mission aerial refueler has accumulated more than 100,000 flight hours and transferred over 200 million pounds of fuel to receiving aircraft worldwide. Boeing has delivered 89 KC-46A tankers to the U.S. Air Force and four to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force since 2019.
In July, the aerospace manufacturer received a separate contract to enhance the tanker’s mission readiness and performance. This follows the 2023 Block 1 upgrade program, which improved the aircraft’s communications systems, data connectivity, and situational awareness capabilities for operations in contested environments.
The KC-46A Pegasus serves as a military aerial refueling and strategic transport aircraft, based on Boeing’s commercial 767 jetliner design.
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