The United States Air Force (USAF) has signed a $2.38 billion contract with Boeing to supply 15 additional KC-46A Pegasus tankers.
This will bring the total KC-46A fleet to 168 aircraft, of which 89 have already been delivered by the U.S. manufacturer.
“We appreciate our continued partnership with the U.S. Air Force,” said Lynn Fox, vice president and KC-46 program manager. “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.”
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According to Boeing, since its launch, the KC-46A has accumulated more than 100,000 flight hours and transferred approximately 200 million pounds of fuel, equivalent to almost 91 million tons, to recipient aircraft around the world.
In October 2024, the model made its debut in full-scale operational missions, after being approved in 2022 by the Air Force Air Mobility Command for global combat operations.
According to Boeing, in addition to performing aerial refueling, the aircraft is equipped for cargo transport, medical evacuation and advanced communications, which makes it a strategic asset for combat scenarios and peacekeeping operations.
93 aircraft delivered
In July 2024, Boeing received another contract to modernize the KC-46A’s capabilities, increasing readiness and mission performance.
The enhancement is an extension of the Block 1 upgrade, carried out in 2023, and includes improvements in data connectivity, advanced communications and situational awareness. These upgrades enhance the aircraft’s survivability and provide an operational advantage in complex scenarios.
Since deliveries began in 2019, Boeing has supplied 93 KC-46A aircraft to the U.S. and Japan.
The core of the USAF’s tanker fleet, however, is still made up of 375 four-engine KC-135s, a Boeing jet that began to be supplied in the 1960s.
The Air Force also operated the KC-10 Extender, based on the DC-10 airliner, but recently retired the last example.
