Boeing Delivers 3 KC-46 Tankers to USAF

Boeing has delivered 3 new KC-46 Pegasus
military aerial refueling and strategic military transport aircraft to the United States Air Force (USAF).

"We’ve delivered three more KC-46 tankers to the US Air Force. Two are flying to 157th Air Refueling Wing and one Pegasus is headed for 22nd Air Refueling Wing, McConnell Air Force Base," Boeing announced on its official Twitter account.

"The aircraft arrived on January 10. The delivery brings Pease Air National Guard Base's inventory to four jets; eight more are slated for delivery before the end of the year," USAF's 157th Air Refueling Wing said in a statement.

In 2019, the company was awarded contracts nearly $8.5 billion for a new fleet of KC-46s with combat capabilities.

The KC-46 Pegasus is developed by Boeing from its 767 jet airliner to replace USAF’s ageing fleet of Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers. The KC-46A Pegasus is a widebody, multirole tanker that can refuel all US, allied and coalition military aircraft compatible with international aerial refueling procedures. The aircraft also completed receiver certification testing with Lockheed F-35 fighter jet last year.

It is designed to carry passengers, cargo and patients. The aircraft can detect, avoid, defeat and survive threats using multiple layers of protection, which will enable it to operate safely in medium-threat environments.