The U.S. Air Force’s (USAF) fleet of new KC-46A Pegasus refueling aircraft continues to expand. Recently, Boeing confirmed it will manufacture 15 new refueling aircraft for a total value of $2.38 billion.
Currently, as part of the necessary replacement of its KC-135 Stratotankers, the USAF plans to acquire over 170 KC-46A Pegasus aircraft. Following the latest delivery reported by Boeing last October, the force has already incorporated a total of 89 aircraft.
Regarding the American aerospace company, it indicated that this new production contract corresponds to the so-called Lot 11, which will bring the global count to 168 aircraft, including those delivered or under production. This count also includes orders from Japan (which has received four units) and Israel.
Among the latest milestones achieved by the KC-46 Pegasus fleet are its first global deployments for complex operations. In November, one of the aircraft marked the platform’s first deployment in South America, participating in the Multinational Exercise CRUZEX 2024 in Brazil, supporting F-15C Eagle fighters from the Air National Guard. Additionally, as part of strengthening the U.S. military presence in the Middle East, the USAF deployed a KC-46 aircraft to the region for the first time to support operations involving existing aircraft in deterrence missions.
Lastly, alongside the production of new aircraft, Boeing is also working on incorporating upgrades to the KC-46 fleet under the Block 1 updates package. These improvements focus on advanced communication equipment, which include: “The updates include line-of-sight and beyond-line-of-sight communication technologies with anti-jamming and encryption capabilities. These features will further enhance the KC-46A’s data and communication connectivity, providing joint and allied forces with superior situational awareness on the battlefield,” detailed the company in 2023.
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