U.S. Air Force Buys 15 More KC-46A Tankers
The United States Air Force has awarded Boeing a Lot 12 contract for 15 additional KC-46A Pegasus aerial refueling aircraft, the company confirmed on Tuesday.
The agreement, valued at $2.47 billion, continues the service’s long-term effort to expand and modernize its tanker fleet.
In a statement, Jake Kwasnik, vice president and KC-46 program manager, said, “Getting on contract helps ensure production stability, including our long-lead supply chain, to continue delivering the unmatched capability of the KC-46A.”
According to Boeing, the U.S. KC-46A fleet has surpassed 150,000 flight hours, a benchmark shaped by high operational use across training, deployment missions and global mobility support. The aircraft, manufactured by Boeing and operated by the U.S. Air Force, has been fielded steadily over the past several years as one of the service’s core refueling platforms.
As noted by the company, there are now 183 KC-46A multi-mission aerial refuelers either on contract or already in service worldwide.
That number includes 98 delivered to the U.S. Air Force, six to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force and four contracted for the Israel Air Force. Boeing says international interest in the aircraft remains steady as allied air forces look to update tanker fleets with platforms offering improved connectivity, survivability and mission flexibility.
The KC-46A is designed to refuel U.S., allied and partner-nation aircraft while also supporting airlift, aeromedical evacuation and communications roles. The Pegasus is built around a digital flight deck, modern defensive systems and a refueling architecture intended to meet emerging mobility requirements.
Boeing also highlighted ongoing modernization efforts. According to the company, recent contracts — including a July 2024 award for mission readiness and performance improvements — are upgrading the aircraft’s communications, data connectivity and situational awareness systems. The company says these enhancements ensure the KC-46A remains the world’s most advanced multi-mission aerial refueler as threat environments and joint-force requirements evolve.
The newly awarded Lot 12 aircraft will be integrated into the Air Force’s global tanker fleet through the remainder of the decade. Boeing says the contract supports stable production and long-lead supply chain planning at its Everett, Washington, facility.
The Air Force Lifecycle Management Center, which oversees the program, continues to field the KC-46A as part of long-term force restructuring plans. The service is also working with Boeing on future capability increments intended to improve mission efficiency, interoperability and command-and-control functions across regions where U.S. Indo-Pacific and European Command requirements are increasing.