Boeing will produce 15 additional KC-46A Pegasus tanker aircraft as part of a Lot 11 award contract from the U.S. Air Force, valued at $2.38 billion. In total, Boeing has 168 multi-mission KC-46A aircraft under contract globally, providing advanced capability advantages for joint forces and allied partners. The USAF has already awarded contracts for 158 of the 179 planned tanker aircraft.
“We value our continued partnership with the U.S. Air Force“, said Lynn Fox, Vice President and KC-46 Program Manager. “This is another great milestone for our team, and we look forward to delivering the world’s most advanced multi-mission tankers for years to come.”
The KC-46A continues to demonstrate its unmatched capabilities, having flown over 100,000 hours and offloaded more than 200 million pounds of fuel to receiving aircraft worldwide. In October, the Pegasus completed its first large-scale operational deployment after the U.S. Air Force Air Mobility Command approved the KC-46A Pegasus for combat operations in 2022. Since 2019, Boeing has delivered 89 KC-46A aircraft to the U.S. Air Force and four to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force.
The U.S. State Department previously authorized Japan to purchase up to nine KC-46 tankers for its air force in a deal valued at $4.1 billion. If Japan proceeds with that agreement, it would double its current fleet, which is expected to reach six aircraft. Also Israel is under contract for Boeing’s tanker aircraft.
In July, the U.S. Air Force awarded Boeing a contract to enhance the mission readiness and performance of the KC-46A tanker. This builds on the Block 1 upgrade of 2023, further improving the tanker’s advanced communications, data connectivity, and situational awareness to ensure the aircraft’s survivability and consolidate its operational advantage in conflict scenarios.
Compared to the KC-135 tanker fleet it is replacing, the KC-46A can carry three times the volume of cargo pallets, up to double the passengers and more than 30 percent more patients for air medical evacuation.