A Boeing KC-46A refuels an F-16 | Photo: Boeing
Boeing has received a new order for 15 additional KC-46A tankers from the U.S. Air Force and seven P-8A Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft from the U.S. Navy worth almost $4 billion. A total of 168 KC-46A tankers are on contract around the world with the latest order for the aircraft worth $2.38 billion.
The order for the P-8 aircraft worth $1.6 billion brings the number of the maritime aircraft on contract to 207. 135 P-8 aircraft have been ordered by eight other countries. The latest contract award includes work on Canadian and German P-8A aircraft.
A Boeing statement quoted Lynn Fox, Vice President and KC-46 Program Manager, as saying, “We appreciate our continued partnership with the U.S. Air Force,” adding, “This is another big milestone for our team, and we look forward to delivering the world’s most advanced multi-mission aerial refuelers for years to come.”
Boeing says the KC-46A has completed more than 100,000 flight hours and offloaded more than 200 million pounds of fuel. The aircraft was operationally deployed last month for the first time after being approved for global combat operations in 2022.
Boeing was awarded a contract by the U.S. Air Force in July for KC-46A upgrades that include communications, data connectivity and situational awareness. According to the company, these upgrades included ‘line-of-sight and beyond-line-of-sight communications technologies with anti-jamming and encryption features.’
Boeing said that ‘by delivering data as well as fuel to the joint force, the KC-46A is transforming the role of the tanker for the 21st century and will continue to expand its battlespace network capabilities, including Advanced Battle Management System integration.’
Boeing has delivered 89 KC-46A aircraft to the U.S. Air Force and four aircraft to the Japan Air Self Defense Force, so far.
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