Boeing awarded USD 2.1 Bn contract to supply 15 additional KC-46 air tankers to US Air Force.

The U.S. Department of Defense announced on January 20 that Boeing has been awarded a $2,124,531,149 modification to contract FA8625-11-C-6600 for Lot 7 production KC-46 Pegasus tanker aircraft, subscriptions and licenses and G081 flat file. The modification provides for the exercise of an option for an additional quantity of 15 KC-46 aircraft, data, subscriptions and licenses, and G081 flat file being produced under the basic contract.

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A Boeing KC-46A Pegasus connects with a C-5M Galaxy over California, Apr. 2019 (Picture source: U.S. Air Force)

Work will be performed in Seattle, Washington, and is expected to be completed May 31, 2024. Fiscal 2021 aircraft procurement funds in the full amount are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity.

The Boeing KC-46 Pegasus is an aerial refueling and strategic military transport aircraft developed by Boeing from its 767 jet airliner. In February 2011, the tanker was selected by the U.S. Air Force as the winner in the KC-X tanker competition to replace older Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers. The first aircraft was delivered to the Air Force in January 2019. The Air Force intends to procure 179 Pegasus aircraft by 2027.

On 8 August 2019, the 157th Air Refueling Wing at Pease Air National Guard Base received its first KC-46A. On 12 September 2019, it was reported that the Air Force restricted the KC-46 from carrying cargo and passengers due to an issue with the floor cargo locks coming unlocked in flight. A fix to this issue was approved by the Air Force on 12 November 2019 with plans to install the new cargo locks on delivered aircraft in the upcoming weeks. As of 20 December 2019, four KC-46A aircraft have received the new cargo locks and the Air Force has closed the Category 1 deficiency and cleared the retrofitted aircraft for cargo and passenger operations. On 12 June 2020, the 916th Air Refueling Wing at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base received its first KC-46A.