The US Air Force has signed a contract with Boeing for the production of an additional 15 KC-46 military tanker aircraft.

The US Air Force has awarded Boeing an additional 15 KC-46 Pegasus tanker aircraft for a total of $2,3 billion, according to information provided by the Pentagon. As the US military department added, this batch of tankers will be the 9th in a row, and it is planned to complete the delivery of these vessels by the end of August 2026.

According to representatives of the American corporation, within the framework of contractual obligations, Boeing will supply 128 units of this equipment, 68 of which have already been delivered and put into operation. In addition to them, another 10 pieces are expected to be produced for the allied states of the United States, including Japan (6 aircraft) and Israel (4 aircraft). Japan has already received 2 KC-46s.

It is worth noting the ability of the KC-46 to refuel a larger number of other aircraft in the air, which is its main task. As previously reported by the command of the US Air Force, during flight tests last August in the Middle East, 3 Boeing KC-46 tankers refueled F-15E Strike Eagle fighter-bombers, performing the tasks of the United States Central Command. Last month, in the Asia-Pacific region, 2 KC-46 military aircraft spent 42 flight hours in the air, performing operational and tactical tasks.

Comments

[Adrian28]

In addition to them, another 10 pieces are expected to be produced for the allied states of the United States, including Japan (6 aircraft) and Israel (4 aircraft). Japan has already received 2 KC-46s.

I think Japan really needs such aircraft, because without refueling, Japanese aircraft will not have enough range to cover their island. This is a great contribution to the "defense" of Japan.

[Doccor18]

Quote: Adrian28

I think Japan really needs such aircraft ...

And I think that the massacre for Taiwan is not far off ...

[svp67]

The US Army, in particular, and NATO in general, are sharply increasing their ability to quickly maneuver their aircraft. It remains only to envy, against the background of the number of tanker aircraft we have ...

[cold wind]

Situational awareness, communication, maneuverability - the basis for victories in the 21st century.

[Lt. Air Force stock]

The Boeing 767 will be delayed in production for a few more years, the 747 was discontinued last year. Soon 737/777/787 will remain.

[Bingo]

Except for the fact that with him the story is like with the F-35)))
The operator nihryuna does not see the bar, the tanks did not fit into the fuselage of the truck, therefore everything was done on snot and maintenance does not fit into any standards for the same reason, the cost of a flight hour is three times the previous ...

At one time, it was written here that the conversion of the good old Boeing 767 into an air tanker was done extremely crookedly, literally on its knees - initially, when drawing up the project, they missed the fuselage volume. As a result, in order to shove the unimaginable into it - additional fuel tanks, there, in the cabin, I had to "squeeze" a lot of things, cut, cut and all that. Including changed the system of scooters and mounts for uncoupling fuel tanks, and at the same time cargo pallets, when the aircraft is "converted" into a transport one. When used in "overseas deployment" one of the tanks must be replaced with a universal life support tray - "kitchen-toilet" (usually they combine a bath with a toilet, but the ovs have their own troubles). Due to the non-standard bracing system, the "kitchen-toilet" tray can only be installed sideways in the cabin (by turning it 90 degrees). As a result, with such an installation, the non-return valve in the toilet does not work, and during takeoff and landing of the KS-46A, the contents of the "bucket of honey" splash out into the cabin of the aircraft ... Wow ...

[Rockerman]

People work, what do you say
If only we could learn how to make tankers at such a pace.

[opuonmed]

getting ready getting ready when there are enough hypersonic and other missiles