Boeing delivers 3 new KC-46 Pegasus tanker aircraft to US Air Force.

"We’ve delivered three more KC-46 tankers to the US Air Force. Two are flying to 157th Air Refueling Wing and one Pegasus is headed for 22nd Air Refueling Wing, McConnell Air Force Base," Boeing announced on its official Twitter account.

A KC-46A connects with a B-2 Spirit (Picture source: US Air Force)

"The aircraft arrived on January 10. The delivery brings Pease Air National Guard Base's inventory to four jets; eight more are slated for delivery before the end of the year," USAF's 157th Air Refueling Wing said in a statement.

The Boeing KC-46 Pegasus is a military aerial refueling and strategic military transport aircraft developed by Boeing from its 767 jet airliner. In February 2011, the tanker was selected by the United States Air Force (USAF) as the winner in the KC-X tanker competition to replace older Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers.

The KC-46A is a proven, safe, multi-mission aircraft that will transform aerial refueling and mobility operations for decades to come. We look forward to working with the Air Force, and the Navy, during their initial operational test and evaluation of the KC-46, as we further demonstrate the operational capabilities of this next-generation aircraft across refueling, mobility and combat weapons systems missions,” said Leanne Caret, president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security. “I want to thank the men and women of the Air Force and across the Boeing tanker team who made this happen.”

Boeing is on contract for 52 of an expected 179 tankers for the Air Force.