US Air Force awards Boeing $2.4 billion contract for additional KC-46 tanker

The US Air Force has awarded Boeing a $2.4 billion contract to procure 15 more KC-46A Pegasus aerial refueling tankers. This contract, covering the 11th lot of KC-46s, will increase the total number of tankers Boeing has on order to 168 globally, according to a company statement.

Since 2019, Boeing has delivered 89 KC-46s to the US Air Force, along with four to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. Israel has also committed to purchasing four KC-46s, with deliveries set to begin in 2025, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

Boeing will complete work on these 15 additional tankers by the end of June 2028, at its Everett, Washington facility. The US Air Force plans to acquire 179 KC-46s across 13 contracts, with potential additional orders as the service retires its older KC-135 tankers.

The KC-46 has become a critical component of the Air Force’s modernization efforts, taking over from aging aircraft like the KC-10 Extender, which was decommissioned in September. In October, the Air Force deployed a squadron of KC-46s to the Middle East for the tanker’s first full operational deployment.

Major Andrew Doenitz, commander of the 305th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, remarked that this deployment is pivotal in establishing the foundation for sustained KC-46 operations in the region.

Looking ahead, the future of the Air Force’s tanker fleet remains uncertain. The Air Force plans to introduce the Next Generation Aerial Refueling System (NGAS) in the 2030s. This next-generation tanker is expected to feature a blended wing design and enhanced stealth capabilities, making it more survivable in contested airspace, particularly against major adversaries like China.

However, budget constraints could complicate the Air Force's modernization plans. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall recently cautioned that the service may not be able to afford both the NGAS tanker and other key programs, such as the Next Generation Air Dominance fighter and autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft.

The KC-46 program has faced significant challenges over the years, including cost overruns, quality control issues, and problems with its remote refueling vision system. These difficulties have led to billions in charges for Boeing, including a recent $661 million charge, partly due to a lengthy machinist strike.

In addition to the KC-46 contract, Boeing also secured a nearly $1.7 billion deal with the U.S. Navy for seven additional P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft. This will bring the total number of P-8s contracted by the Navy to 135, and the global fleet to 207. Boeing’s P-8 customers include the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, India, Norway, New Zealand, South Korea, Germany, and Canada, with 170 units delivered or in service worldwide.

By Vafa Guliyeva