U.S. Oks $4.1B Sale of KC-46A Refueling Aircraft to Japan

The U.S. State Department today approved a potential $4.1 billion Foreign Military Sale to Japan for up to nine Boeing KC-46A Pegasus aerial refueling aircraft.

As part of the process, the required notification was delivered to Congress. The proposed sale includes additional support equipment, including Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasure (LAIRCM) Guardian Laser Turret Assemblies (GLTAs), AN/ALR-69A radar warning receivers (RWRs), and 18 Pratt & Whitney PW4062 turbofan engines.

The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) has a history of operating Boeing tankers, having taken delivery of four first-generation KC-767 tankers between 2008 and 2010. Japan became the first operator of the KC-46A outside the United States in 2021. All four aircraft are said to be delivered by 2024.

Today's announcement did not specify when the new aircraft are expected to be delivered.