KC-46

The KC-46 has finally landed in Israel. The US needs to keep pushing forward.

Israel now has its own KC-46, but the US needs to do much more to help grow Israel's tanker force, argue Justin Leopold-Cohen and Bradley Bowman.

Air Force expects new KC-46 vision system in 2028 as lawmakers question price hike

Sen. Kevin Cramer said lawmakers "need more information for sure" about projected price increases for the air refueler, which budget documents show could climb by $100 million per tail.

Boeing runs up fresh $565M loss on KC-46 tanker

Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg emphasized that the latest charge on the beleaguered tanker does not reflect larger issues across its defense business, with executives attributing it to higher production support and supply chain costs.

New KC-46 vision system begins test flights, as Boeing eyes more Gulf sales

Boeing defense chief Steve Parker also disputed that cost disputes drove a decision by the US Air Force to cancel the E-7 Wedgetail program, which has now led to NATO reversing plans to buy the aircraft as well.

How a ‘priority’ on next-gen tankers paved the way for more Boeing KC-46s

A recent Air Force document provides the clearest insight yet into the service’s evolving tanker strategy, as well as what might be needed to continue the production run of Boeing’s KC-46 Pegasus air refueler.

Air Force again changes course on tankers, plans new ‘production extension’ program

The Air Force plans to use the Boeing KC-46 Pegasus’s Capability Production Document “as the most affordable requirements basis” for the new program, potentially giving the embattled aerospace manufacturer a leg up in a competition.

Boeing on track to deliver fifth, sixth KC-46As to Japan this year: Exec

The Boeing executives also touched on Japan’s ongoing effort to upgrade its fleet of F-15 Eagle interceptors, with Suding telling reporters that systems integration work is ongoing at Boeing’s facilities in St. Louis.

KC-46 refueling vision system fix delayed to 2027

The new timeline is a setback for the beleaguered tanker, whose deliveries have been halted since February.

Air Force pauses deliveries of Boeing’s KC-46 tanker

The decision to pause deliveries was made on Feb. 27 by the service’s KC-46A program office “due to the identification of in the ‘outboard fixed-trailing-edge support structure’” of the two planes, an Air Force spokesperson said.

Boeing to log $1.7B in defense program losses in fourth quarter

Boeing’s total year end charges of $4.9 billion on its troubled portfolio of fixed price weapons contracts is the largest-ever loss for its defense unit, up from losses of $4.4 billion in 2022.

Boeing machinists vote to end strike, putting KC-46, P-8 programs back on track

Members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), which represents about 33,000 Boeing workers mostly in Washington state and Oregon, voted in a 59 percent majority to end the strike and will return to work on Nov. 6.

Boeing’s defense unit logs massive $2 billion in losses for third quarter

"In BDS [Boeing Defense Space and Security], our performance on fixed-price development programs is simply not where it needs to be," Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg said.

State clears potential $4.1B KC-46 refuelers sale to Japan, $7.2B F-35 stealth fighters sale to Romania

Japan would be permitted to buy up to nine additional KC-46A tankers, while Romania would be cleared to acquire 32 F-35As.

Boeing defense programs to feel the pinch as Seattle-based union votes to strike

The strike stops production of Boeing’s 737, 767 and 777 jetliners in the Seattle region as well as military derivatives of those aircraft, which include the 737-based P-8 Poseidon maritime aircraft and the 767-based KC-46 tanker.