Boeing KC-46A

By Brian Everstine
The U.S. Air Force has not taken delivery of KC-46 tankers from Boeing in more than two months.
Multi-Mission Aircraft

By Steve Trimble
Air Mobility Command’s goal of fielding a stealthy, penetration tanker aircraft in the mid-2030s faces pressure from tight budgets on its current timeline.
Multi-Mission Aircraft

By Steve Trimble
PACAF officials decided that the situation demanded some operational creativity.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble
The Japanese military plans to significantly expand its air refueling fleet.
Multi-Mission Aircraft

By Steve Trimble
A lack of funding is putting pressure on USAF plans to field an advanced new tanker in the 2030s and limiting upgrades for a follow-on purchase of KC-46As.
Multi-Mission Aircraft

By Steve Trimble
Air Mobility Command plans to complete a year-long analysis in the hopes of resolving several fundamental questions about the U.S. Air Force’s next tanker.
Multi-Mission Aircraft

By Sean Broderick, Michael Bruno, Steve Trimble, Irene Klotz, Guy Norris
Boeing’s new leadership in Commercial Airplanes and at the top are likely just the beginning of major changes at the manufacturing giant.
Manufacturing & Supply Chain

By Brian Everstine
USAF plans to complete certification of the Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk on its newest tanker, in spite of the fleet having been retired from “official” service.
Multi-Mission Aircraft

By Brian Everstine
The U.S. Air Force plans to increase the program of record for its KC-46 refueling tanker as it looks to accelerate a follow-on next generation replacement.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Brian Everstine
The U.S. Air Force is changing course again on plans for its Boeing F-15EX Eagle II in the service’s fiscal 2025 budget request.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Brian Everstine
The U.S. Air Force is evaluating bids from Airbus and Boeing for a planned replacement of the KC-135 ahead of a future tanker.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Brian Everstine
The U.S. Air Force is finally nearly ready to start flight testing a communications pod for the Boeing KC-46 Pegasus.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Brian Everstine
The Pentagon’s operational test and evaluation office has collected all the data it can on the Boeing KC-46A Pegasus.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Graham Warwick
Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Brian Everstine
Boeing fell short of its KC-46 tanker delivery target to the U.S. Air Force in 2023 following two separate delivery pauses.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Graham Warwick
Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.
Aerospace

By Brian Everstine
Boeing on Oct. 20 resumed deliveries of its KC-46 tanker to the U.S. Air Force following an almost two-month pause due to red-tape issues.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Brian Everstine
Boeing has delivered four KC-46s so far this year, with no handovers to the U.S. Air Force since late August.
Supply Chain

By Steve Trimble
The request for information (RFI) was published on Sept. 15 by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Brian Everstine
The U.S. Air Force wants to kick off its program to replace its aging Boeing KC-135s this month with a request for information.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble
A decision will be announced by the U.S. Air Force on Aug. 16 that could decide the future shape of the strategic mobility fleet.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Brian Everstine
The existing remote vision system on the Boeing KC-46 has been plagued with quality issues, which make up two of six Category 1 deficiencies on the airplane.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Brian Everstine
The service seeks shift from one-for-one replacement of KC-135s and C-17s to a series of aircraft, from the basic to the exquisite.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Steve Trimble
The Metrea Strategic Mobility-owned tanker offloaded nearly 90,000 lb. of fuel during 13 boom contacts with an RC-135 and E-3 during Exercise Resolute Hunter.
Multi-Mission Aircraft

By Brian Everstine
The U.S. Air Force expects to resume accepting deliveries of KC-46s next month.
Aircraft & Propulsion