Boeing has been awarded a Lot 11 contract worth $2.38 billion to deliver 15 more KC-46A Pegasus tankers to the U.S. Air Force.
The global aerospace and defense company said Thursday the new deal brings the total number of KC-46A multi-mission aerial refuelers contracted globally to 168 units. This provides the joint force and U.S. allies with enhanced capability advantages.
KC-46A Pegasus Tanker Capabilities
The KC-46A Pegasus, a military aerial refueling aircraft developed by Boeing, launched its first full-scale operational deployment in October after receiving global combat operations approval from the Air Mobility Command in 2022. The refueler has so far logged over 100,000 flight hours and offloaded about 200 million pounds of fuel worldwide, demonstrating its advanced capabilities.
In July, Boeing received a contract to boost the performance and mission readiness of the KC-46As by enhancing its onboard performance tool software and takeoff and landing data management. The company was also awarded a Block 1 upgrade contract in 2023 to further develop the tanker’s communications capabilities, boosting its data connectivity and situational awareness.
Boeing has so far delivered 89 KC-46A tankers to the Air Force since 2019. The company also provided four units to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force during the same period. In September, the U.S. approved Japan’s foreign military sale request for nine additional KC-46A tankers.
Lynn Fox, vice president and program manager of KC-46 at Boeing, said of the new agreement with the Air Force, “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.”
