U.S. Air Force Awards Boeing $16.8M for KC-46A Enhancements

The U.S. Air Force has awarded Boeing a $16.8 million contract to upgrade the KC-46A tanker with software and data enhancements.

These improvements aim to enhance mission readiness and expand the performance capabilities of the aircraft.

The contract focuses on upgrades to the Onboard Performance Tool software, enabling faster mission launches through more efficient cargo loading and improved management of takeoff and landing data. These enhancements will allow aircrews to perform weight and balance calculations more quickly, facilitating rapid mission commencement.

In 2023, Boeing received a Block 1 upgrade contract from the Air Force, which improved the KC-46A's communications, data connectivity, and situational awareness. These upgrades aim to enhance aircraft survivability and provide operational advantages in contested environments.

The KC-46A is designed to carry three times more cargo pallets, up to twice as many passengers, and over 30% more aeromedical evacuation patients compared to the KC-135 aircraft it is replacing.

To date, Boeing has delivered 84 KC-46As to the U.S. Air Force and four to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force.