Boeing KC-46 Pegasus

Hey folks,
the first Israeli KC‑46 “Gideon” tanker has successfully completed its maiden flight in the United States.
It’s the first of six aircraft being acquired as part of a larger IDF force‑build program. The tanker will be fitted with Israeli systems and customized to meet the Air Force’s operational requirements. It’s set to boost Israel’s operational range and support air superiority across all theaters.
Source with pictures (English):
https://www.mod.gov.il/en/press-rel...craft-completes-its-maiden-flight-in-us-skies
 
Ozair said:
The CIA or SOCOM etc buying a KC-46 would seem unnecessary given both use USAF refuelling and transport assets as required already.
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There have been reports in recent times though that SOCOM at least has been trying to diversify its refueling sourcing, if I'm not mistaken. I wouldn't be at all surprised if the CIA was doing the same in the background. This of course being due to the ongoing mess the USAF management of its tanker assets has descended into.
 
With the proliferation of smartphone´s camera, Internet Forums etc... having more secure tanker crew and dedicated mission allocation would seems as a rightful investment to preserve the secrecy of a Black Budget program. A tanker that is multi-tasked might well leave a secret aircraft with no option but to land in plain day at a divert airfield close to a populated area during a tense crisis...

@RavenOne : those pictures are gorgeous. Sad however that they had to hide the serial number due to the craze of antisemitism around.
 
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Responding to Budd, Air Force Lt. Gen. David Tabor said “the biggest thing to recognize is that the current production of aircraft that we’re buying are perhaps the cheapest tankers that we were ever going to buy. In fact, I think Boeing took those at a loss, and they would tell you that same thing, that if they were selling them at what they needed to, it would be significantly higher.”
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TomcatViP said:
KC-46 pricings have been seriously updated at +$100M per piece while availability nose down slightly at 61%:

https://breakingdefense.com/2026/05...tem-in-2028-as-lawmakers-question-price-hike/
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The price increase is related to the end of 767-C production. That was supporting 3 per month including KC-46 orders so once the 767-C orders finish, primarily due to ICAO emission regulations, it will only be KC-46 orders remaining. USAF then has to pay to keep the line running with all the costs that entails.
 
joshjosh said:
Here's the full chart. USAF's firm orders are accounted for (169). Israel and Japan's orders are accounted for as well. Israel has only been approved for 4 more aircraft, while Japan has been approved for 9 more. This could be Japan, or a combination of Israel and Japan, but I'm not sure why they would be keeping the customer(s) a secret.

View attachment 810596
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I think this "unidentified customer" is Israel. The orders page previously showed 4 aircraft ordered by Israel, which we know is correct from press releases. But now the orders page shows 2 ordered by Israel in August 2022, and 2 ordered by an unidentified customer in August 2022. An additional 1 for an undentified customer is shown for September 2022, and then 6 in February 2026. 9 KC-46 for an unidentified customer(s) total.

Deliveries now reflect 3 delivered to an unidentified customer in April 2026, which approximately lines up with press releases showing Israel receiving 1 KC-46 in May 2026.

Given that Boeing is changing historical entries in their orders & deliveries table, I'm just going to assume the unidentified customer is Israel and the quantities aren't accurate.
 

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Sorry if this is a silly question but the Air Force One thread got me thinking about the smaller 757 fleet the USAF uses. During the next 10 years they will need to be gradually replaced by a new airframe. Could Boeing build a VIP version of the KC-46 for this role ? Since this aircraft is already a militarized 767, it seems the ideal replacement for the 757 fleet. Also, having commonality with the rest of the KC-46 fleet would be a big plus.
 
alberchico said:
Sorry if this is a silly question but the Air Force One thread got me thinking about the smaller 757 fleet the USAF uses. During the next 10 years they will need to be gradually replaced by a new airframe. Could Boeing build a VIP version of the KC-46 for this role ? Since this aircraft is already a militarized 767, it seems the ideal replacement for the 757 fleet. Also, having commonality with the rest of the KC-46 fleet would be a big plus.
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Theoretically possible.

Though I'd expect the USAF 757s to be replaced by 737 MAX-9 or -10s.
 
On the July 14 Aviation Week Check 6 podcast, Boeing Defense CEO Steve Parker said:

"I've just increased the production rate of KC-46, so it's going to take us to two a month, which is exactly what the Air Force is looking for."

"With our 767 freighter coming to an end in 2027 with our commercial airplanes division, we've got potential capacity. This is for the current program of record, but we can go a little faster and deliver, and that's what we've done there."

I haven't seen this reported elsewhere, and it isn't reflected in budget documents. FY27 budget documents reflects a procurement rate of 18 per month in FY28 and beyond. Presumably some of these 24 aircraft per year would go to FMS customers. Boeing delivered 15 to all customers in 2025, and 9 so far in 2026.
 
Scott Kenny said:
Theoretically possible.

Though I'd expect the USAF 757s to be replaced by 737 MAX-9 or -10s.
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The USAF is already operating the C-40B and C, which are versions of the -700 with -800 wings and landing gear . In FY25, they requested a single C-40D based on the MAX-9, but I don't think the money was forthcoming.

The C-32s supposedly have 14+ years left, so the Air Force isn't in a rush to replace them. The services would ideally replace all the C-32s and C-40s with a single type, but it's too soon to tell what may actually be available when it comes time.

A VC-46 seems unlikely. One point in favor of the C-32 and C-40 fleets is that they can get in and out of some smaller airfields that can't handle KC-46s or the VC-25s. (The C-37 Gulfstreams are for really small fields).

Since some of the missions for the C-40 fleet are logistics/cargo missions, a common fleet replacement would ideally have a cargo or combi version. The Navy C-40A has a pallet-loading side door on the main deck, which the MAX doesn't have, at least not yet.
 
TomS said:
Since some of the missions for the C-40 fleet are logistics/cargo missions, a common fleet replacement would ideally have a cargo or combi version. The Navy C-40A has a pallet-loading side door on the main deck, which the MAX doesn't have, at least not yet.
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Huh. That's surprising.

But IIRC the Combi versions of the 727 and 737 were some of the last designed for each generation.
 
Titus K said:
must be a lot of related equipment!
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Hey Titus, either you mean spare engines and parts, technical support and training, etc., .... or you are referring to the VC-25B “Bridge”, which was gifted from Qatar to the current U.S. administration. ;)
 
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The Air Force on Friday raised the ceiling on Boeing's (BA) KC-46 contract by $13.4 billion to a max of $19.1 billion, the DOD reported late Friday. The Air Force modified the contract to include additional foreign military sales for Japan, Israel and future country partners. Boeing first won the contract in 2019, which covered a range of postproduction requirements for the KC-46 Pegasus aerial refueling and military transport aircraft.
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https://www.investors.com/news/boei...ronment-northrop-grumman-ba-avav-noc-defense/

200% ceiling increase!
 

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