Defense giant secures production line through 2029 after delivery pause earlier this year over structural concerns.
Boeing secured a $2.4 billion U.S. Air Force contract to build 15 additional KC-46A Pegasus aerial refueling tankers, bolstering the aircraft maker’s production line through the end of the decade.
The Pentagon announced the Lot 12 production order on Nov. 25, with work expected to finish by mid-2029. The contract marks a significant milestone for Boeing following a temporary halt in deliveries earlier this year.
The Air Force paused KC-46 deliveries in March after discovering structural cracks in newly manufactured aircraft awaiting delivery. Boeing and the Air Force determined the defects did not pose flight safety risks, and deliveries resumed two months later in May.
Boeing now has 183 KC-46As under contract globally, a figure expected to climb as the Air Force moves forward with an acquisition strategy calling for a potential fleet of 263 tankers for the service.
“Getting on contract helps ensure production stability, including [for] our long-lead supply chain, to continue delivering the unmatched capability of the KC-46A,” said Jake Kwasnik, Boeing’s KC-46 program manager.
Currently, 98 of the 767-based tankers fly with the Air Force, while Japan’s Air Self-Defense Force operates six aircraft. Israel plans to acquire six KC-46As as well.
The tanker program has faced several technical challenges beyond the structural crack issue. Boeing recently completed the first test flight of a KC-46A equipped with Remote Vision System 2.0, an upgraded system designed to address deficiencies in the current remote refueling boom operation system.
Additional problems have included stiffness in the fuel-transfer boom and issues with cargo load planning software. Despite these setbacks, the Air Force has deployed the tankers on frontline duty since 2022.
The latest contract provides Boeing with production certainty and supply chain stability as the company works through technical refinements while continuing to deliver aircraft to the military.
Key Takeaways
- Boeing received a $2.4 billion Air Force contract for 15 KC-46A tankers under Lot 12, with completion expected by mid-2029.
- The order secures Boeing’s production line through the decade’s end after delivery disruptions caused by structural cracks discovered in March.
- Boeing now has 183 KC-46As on contract worldwide, with the Air Force planning a potential fleet of 263 tankers.
- Currently, 98 tankers serve with the U.S. Air Force, six with Japan, and Israel plans to acquire six more aircraft.
