Boeing KC-46A Pegasus: USAF orders 15 more strategic aerial refuelers
As of now, the U.S. Air Force has 89 Boeing KC-46A Pegasus aircrafts in its fleet, targeting a fleet strength of 179 KC-46A tankers by 2027.
Boeing has announced that it has bagged an order for 15 additional KC-46A Pegasus tankers from the U.S. Air Force (USAF) valued at $2.38 billion. Together, the company has 168 KC-46As on contract globally, primarily with the USAF, followed by Japanese and Israeli air forces.
Claimed as the world’s most advanced multi-mission aerial refueler-cum-transport plane, the KC-46A is known for its advanced capabilities in delivering fuel, data, and supplies in various scenarios including combat operations. The aircraft has clocked more than 100,000 flight hours and offloaded over 200 million pounds of fuel to receivers globally.
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Built specifically to cater to the needs of the USAF and allies, the KC-46A Pegasus entered into full-scale operational deployment last month, after the USAF approved the versatile transport aircraft for global combat operations in 2022. The aircraft was originally conceived to replace the ageing Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker that are still in service in large numbers.
The aircraft is built on the Boeing 767 platform, featuring the fuselage of the 767-200ER, wing, gear, cargo door and floor of the 767-300F, and the digital flight deck and flaps derived from 767-400ER. It also features the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) similar to the infamous Boeing 737 Max.
More importantly, the KC-46A boasts a fly-by-wire refueling boom and wing air refueling pods at each wingtip, along with a centerline drogue system (CDS) under the rear fuselage, to handle both types of refueling on the go. The fuel tank gets ballistic protection, while the cockpit is armored for maximum protection.
The Boeing KC-46A Pegasus is powered by two Pratt & Whitney PW4062 turbofan engines located in its wings, offering a maximum speed of 570 mph and a flying range of a whooping 11,830 km supported by in-flight refueling.
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To offer multi-role capabilities, the aircraft can be converted between cargo, passenger and aeromedical evacuation configurations (with emergency oxygen and electrical power for medevac support) in just two hours. The crew cabin has permanent seating option for 15 passengers apart from the three pilots in the cockpit.
