US Authorizes Japan to Acquire Nine Additional KC-46A Tanker Aircraft for $4.1 Billion.

The U.S. Department of State has approved the sale of up to nine Boeing KC-46A tanker aircraft to Japan as part of a deal estimated at $4.1 billion. This decision also includes a range of related equipment such as 18 PW 4062 turbofan engines, 16 AN/ALR-69A radar warning receivers, 33 LAIRCM Guardian infrared countermeasure systems, as well as missile warning sensors and AN/APX-119 Identification Friend or Foe transponders.
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A Boeing KC-46A Pegasus takes off at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Oct. 25, 2018, during a system evaluation (Picture source: US Air Forces)

This acquisition will bring Japan's fleet of KC-46As to a total of 15 aircraft, complementing the six planes already in service or on order. The KC-46As are operated by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF), notably by the 405th Air Refueling Squadron, established in December 2020 to manage these new tankers.

The KC-46A, powered by two dual-flow turbofan engines, has a fuel capacity of 96,161 kilograms and can refuel most fixed-wing aircraft. It is equipped with a refueling boom controlled by fly-by-wire systems, allowing for smooth in-flight fuel transfer. The aircraft is also equipped with an advanced self-protection system enabling it to operate in contested environments.

The sale also includes spare parts, personnel training, training equipment, and logistical and technical support services. Boeing, Pratt & Whitney, RTX, and Northrop Grumman will be the principal contractors for this agreement.

According to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), this expansion of Japan's KC-46A fleet aims to support the United States' national security objectives by enhancing the security of a key ally in the Indo-Pacific region. It will also improve Japan's aerial refueling and passenger transport capabilities, contributing to stronger deterrence against current and emerging threats.

Japan, the first export customer of the KC-46A, has approximately 16% of the aircraft's airframe produced by Japanese subcontractors for Boeing. The KC-46As can refuel both Japanese and American aircraft and complement the four KC-767J tankers already in service with the JASDF.

A U.S. Air Force KC-46A Pegasus assigned to the 13th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron extends its boom to refuel during a sortie in support of Talisman Sabre 23 over Australia, Aug. 1, 2023 (Picture source: US DoD)