The U.S. Air Power at the moment operates 96 KC-46A refuelers, which Boeing can also be upgrading with new {hardware} and software program.
Boeing introduced on Nov. 26, 2025, the award of a brand new contract, value $2.47 billion, to construct 15 extra KC-46A Pegasus refueling tankers for the U.S. Air Power, protecting Manufacturing Lot 12. With the 98 KC-46As already delivered to the service, in response to Boeing Protection, the whole variety of plane within the fleet will enhance to 113 airframes.
Together with six plane of the JASDF (Japan Air Self-Protection Power) and 4 contracted for the Israel Air Power, there are a complete of 183 KC-46A multi-mission aerial refuelers “on contract or in service globally, offering superior functionality benefits for the joint pressure and allies,” says the corporate. The KC-46A is poised to interchange the older KC-135 Stratotanker, of which the USAF operates 375 airframes, as per the 2025 World Air Forces report.
The U.S. KC-46A fleet has exceeded 150,000 flight hours, reflecting excessive utilization throughout coaching, operational sorties and world deployment missions. Though the Pegasus’ introduction has been slowed down by issues, the Air Power is displaying its dedication to the platform.
“Getting on contract helps guarantee manufacturing stability, together with our long-lead provide chain, to proceed delivering the unrivaled functionality of the KC-46A,” stated Jake Kwasnik, vp and KC-46 program supervisor.
‘Tank’ful to assist develop the fleet!
Thanks, @USAirForce, in your order of fifteen extra #KC46 Tankers to offer gas, cargo and information for missions worldwide.
Launch: pic.twitter.com/gW2jZWgSzt
— Boeing Protection (@BoeingDefense) November 25, 2025
KC-46A Pegasus in USAF
Boeing on Feb. 8, 2024 had reported the supply of the nineteenth KC-46 to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey. On Oct. 4 and Nov. 15, 2025, Boeing reported the supply of the seventeenth and 18th Pegasus tankers, respectively, to Travis AFB, California.
We not too long ago reported concerning the Division of the Air Power deciding on McGhee Tyson ANGB (Air Nationwide Guard Base), Tennessee, as the popular location for the Fundamental Operation Base (MOB) 7 of the KC-46A Pegasus fleet. The 134th Air Refueling Wing primarily based there’ll obtain eight new tankers, with the primary supply in 2031 following a remaining basing determination anticipated in 2027.
That improvement got here as Boeing was engaged on resolving a bunch of technical points on the Pegasus. The main snag is the Distant Imaginative and prescient System (RVS) of the refueling growth, with visibility and depth notion dealing with points, and a bunch of different Class 1 deficiencies with the general airframe.
NEWS: 418th FLTS at Edwards executes historic trilateral check with @AusAirForce @RoyalAirForce. #RAAF E-7A now suitable with @usairforce KC-46, future check groups achieve early data forward of anticipated E-7 fielding.
Extra- @AFLCMCofficial pic.twitter.com/sMasEilJdB
— Edwards Air Power Base (@EdwardsAFB) April 28, 2025
Boeing Protection chief Steven Parker not too long ago stated, on the sidelines of the Dubai Air Present, that the corporate has begun flight checks with an improved RVS 2.0 at its Seattle facility. Breaking Protection reported that Boeing has been delivering Pegasus refuelers with what the Air Power dubs RVS 1.5, a touch improved system over the RVS 1.0 model.
Different KC-46A upgrades
The most recent Boeing assertion added: “Latest contracts, together with the July 2024 award for mission readiness and efficiency upgrades, are enhancing the KC-46A’s communications, information connectivity and situational consciousness capabilities, guaranteeing the KC-46 stays the world’s most superior multi-mission aerial refueler.”
The aforementioned Jul. 22, 2024 contract was a $16.8 million award for “software program and information enhancements” on the KC-46A fleet. It included “upgrades to the Onboard Efficiency Software software program for expedited mission launch, with particular enhancements for environment friendly cargo loading and takeoff and touchdown information administration for flight planning.”
The brand new methods enable aircrews to “full weight and stability calculations extra effectively and cargo the plane and begin missions rapidly,” the Boeing press launch added. The KC-46A additionally has a secondary cargo capability, with the ability to carry “3 times extra cargo pallets, as much as twice as many passengers and over 30% extra aeromedical evacuation sufferers than the KC-135 plane fleet it’s changing,” in response to Boeing.
Capabilities
In keeping with a Nov. 18 brochure by the U.S. Air Power, the KC-46A Pegasus has 18 pallet positions, a gas capability of 96,297 kg and cargo capability of 29,484 kg. A earlier 2023 contract from the Air Power for the Block 1 improve of the KC-46As, was additionally centered on “superior communications, information connectivity and situational consciousness for plane survivability and operational benefit in contested environments.”
A Nov. 24 launch by the 305th Air Mobility Wing concerning the return to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst from a seven-month “contingency deployment” with 16 KC-135 and KC-46 items throughout Lively Obligation, Reserve and Nationwide Guard wings, confused concerning the Pegasus’ capabilities.
A KC-46A Pegasus from Travis Air Power Base🇺🇸 flew to Misawa AB🇯🇵 to refuel F-16s from the 14th Fighter Squadron.The #USAF attest its capability to keep up a army presence within the Indo-Pacific. #KC46 #IndoPacific #AirToAirRefueling @ArmyRecognition pic.twitter.com/ZJxSt8EpXn
— Indopac Information (@IndopacNews) June 25, 2025
On that event, Grasp Sgt. Charles Taylor stated: “We leveraged the Guard and Reserve’s skilled KC-135 personnel, in addition to the KC-46’s superior mission system avionics to beat worldwide hostilities and make use of each fleets of plane at a breakneck tempo, guaranteeing maneuverability for your entire joint pressure.”
