Boeing delivers final KC-767 Tanker to Japan

The Boeing Company on Jan. 8 announced the delivery of last of four KC-767 aerial refueling tankers to the Japan Ministry of Defense, completing one of the International Tanker team's most significant milestones. Itochu Corp., Boeing's partner on the Japan Tanker program, handed over the KC-767 advanced tanker to Japan Ministry of Defense officials. Assigned to the 1st Airlift Wing of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force at Komaki Air Base, it is the third consecutive KC-767 tanker to be delivered to Boeing's Japan customer within the contracted schedule and budget. "Providing Japan with the fourth and final KC-767 tanker on-schedule and on-cost, as we did the previous two KC-767s, means a great deal to our company and our relationship with this important customer," said Dennis Muilenburg, president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security. "Because of these tankers, Japan now has the capability to perform vital self-defense, refueling and airlift missions. Also, when necessary, it possesses the capability to perform critical humanitarian and disaster-relief missions across the Pacific region and beyond using the KC-767." Boeing delivered the first three KC-767 tankers to Japan in February 2008, March 2008 and March 2009. The Japan KC-767 fleet is currently undergoing Operational Evaluation by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, a process that should be completed early this year. The fleet achieved Initial Operational Capability (IOC) in March 2009. The tanker has an open architecture cockpit and is configured with the advanced Boeing air refueling boom and the associated Remote Aerial Refueling Operator (RARO) II system. Japan selected the convertible freighter configuration, allowing it to carry cargo or passengers while maintaining its primary role as an aerial tanker. With a convertible freighter interior, the Japan tanker can be rapidly converted from all-passenger to all-cargo configurations.