Boeing awarded US$2.8bn for KC-46A Tanker initial production

The U.S. Air Force awarded Boeing US$2.8bn for KC-46A tanker low-rate initial production. The award includes the first two “production lots” of 7 and 12 planes respectively, as well as spare parts. Including future options, Boeing plans to build a total of 179 of the 767-based refueling aircraft for the Air Force to replace their KC-135 fleet. This step forward follows a Defense Acquisition Board review and announcement that the KC-46 program completed “Milestone C” – a set of required ground- and flight-test tests – and is approved for initial production. Those tests included refueling flights with F-16, F/A-18, AV-8B, KC-10, C-17 and A-10 aircraft and a cargo handling demo. The KC-46A is a multirole tanker that can refuel all allied and coalition military aircraft compatible with international aerial refueling procedures and can carry passengers, cargo and patients.