A KC-46 Pegasus tanker aircraft seen overhead, with its boom-type refueling pod visible on the underside. The Pegasus is several years behind its original delivery schedule, primarily due to issues with its electronics. (Shutterstock/ranchorunner)

How Boeing Is Trying to Fix the Issues with the KC-46 Tanker Plane

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The first KC-46 aircraft was delivered to the US Air Force in 2019—but persistent issues with the platform have prevented widespread adoption, leading to financial calamity for manufacturer Boeing.

The United States Air Force remains committed to the KC-46 Pegasus aerial refueling tanker, which will serve as a bridge, designed to transition the fleet from the aging KC-135 Stratotankers to the future “Next Generation Air-refueling Systems” (NGAS). Initially planned as a limited stopgap of 179 aircraft, the Air Force has indicated it would boost its production order to 263 KC-46 aircraft as the NGAS won’t be fully deployed until the mid-2030s. The remaining aircraft acquisition remains on hold until the KC-46’s existing problems can be resolved.

The KC-46A Pegasus’ Specifications

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