Boeing Secures $4B for KC-46A Tankers, P-8A Poseidon Aircraft

Boeing has secured over $4 billion in defense contracts from the U.S. Department of Defense, including KC-46A aerial refueling tankers and P-8A Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft, along with engineering services for international customers.

The largest of the new contracts is a $2.39 billion agreement with the U.S. Air Force to produce 15 additional KC-46A Pegasus aerial refueling tankers under a Lot 11 contract modification. The KC-46A is a multi-mission tanker, providing aerial refueling capabilities to U.S. and allied forces. With this contract, Boeing now has 168 KC-46A tankers under contract globally.

In recent months, Boeing has continued to upgrade its existing KC-46A fleet, enhancing the tankers with communications, data connectivity, and situational awareness systems. These updates aim to ensure the aircraft remain viable in contested operational environments.

Since 2019, Boeing has delivered 89 KC-46As to the U.S. Air Force and four to Japan's Air Self-Defense Force. The Pegasus, which has flown over 100,000 flight hours and delivered more than 200 million pounds of fuel globally, was approved for global combat operations in 2022. The latest contract ensures ongoing production through June 2028, with work based in Seattle, Washington.

In addition to this, Boeing secured a $1.68 billion contract for the U.S. Navy to deliver seven P-8A Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft as part of Lot 13 production. This modification also includes engineering services for Foreign Military Sales to Canada and Germany. Work on the P-8A aircraft will primarily take place in Seattle and is scheduled for completion by September 2030.

The KC-46A enhances aerial refueling and global deployment capabilities, while the P-8A Poseidon strengthens maritime surveillance and anti-submarine warfare.