DefenceTalkMore bad news for US aviation giant Boeing: the US Air Force said Tuesday it had halted for a second time the acceptance of new KC-46 tankers due to ongoing quality issues. Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson revealed the March 23 decision — another setback in the already delayed air tanker program — during a […]https://www.defencetalk.com/pentagon-refuses-boeing-tanker-deliveries-over-quality-issues-72249/

DefenceTalkThe U.S. Air Force today awarded Boeing $2.1 billion for 15 KC-46A tanker aircraft, spare engines and wing air refueling pod kits. This order is the third low-rate initial production lot for Boeing. The first two came in August 2016 and included seven and 12 planes, respectively, as well as spare parts. Boeing plans to […]https://www.defencetalk.com/boeing-awarded-2-1b-for-third-kc-46a-tanker-production-lot-68938/

DefenceTalkBoeing warned Thursday that second-quarter earnings will be hit by $2.1 billion in unexpected after tax costs, including its third charge in a year on a large Air Force tanker contract. Boeing said its quarterly earnings release on July 27 will recognize $393 million in costs associated with the KC-46 tanker program, a next-generation military […]https://www.defencetalk.com/boeing-hit-by-2-1-bn-in-tanker-production-costs-67888/

DefenceTalkThe KC-46A Pegasus connected in flight with an F-16 Fighting Falcon and a C-17 Globemaster III July 8 and July 12, respectively, as part of a testing milestone. These tests with the F-16 and C-17 were in support of the Milestone C requirements to rendezvous, contact and transfer fuel to several receiver aircraft types. An […]https://www.defencetalk.com/kc-46-completes-milestone-by-refueling-fighter-jet-cargo-plane-67839/

DefenceTalkKC-46 Pegasus aircraft are now expected to arrive at their first basing locations by late summer or early fall 2017. The KC-46 was most recently scheduled for a spring 2017 arrival at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, the first formal training unit location; and McConnell AFB, Kansas, the first active duty-led Pegasus main operating base. […]https://www.defencetalk.com/boeing-and-u-s-air-force-adjust-kc-46-tanker-schedule-67540/

DefenceTalkAn Air Force and Boeing aircrew aboard a KC-46A Pegasus successfully refueled an F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet in flight Feb. 10, marking the program’s first using the tanker’s hose and drogue system. The flight, which took place in the skies over Washington state, lasted more than four hours and the tanker’s air refueling operator transferred […]https://www.defencetalk.com/kc-46-refuels-fighter-jet-with-hose-drogue-system-for-first-time-66770/

DefenceTalkThe KC-46 acquisition cost estimate has declined by about 5.4 percent from $51.7 billion to $48.9 billion since February 2011 and the program is on track to meet performance goals. Most of the estimated cost decline is due to fewer than expected engineering changes and changes in military construction plans. The Air Force delayed the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/kc-46-tanker-aircraft-costs-drop-5-but-key-flight-capability-testing-lags-behind-63799/

DefenceTalkThe KC-46 Pegasus development program completed its first flight of Engineering, Manufacturing and Development (EMD) aircraft #1 Dec. 28. EMD #1 is a provisioned 767-2C freighter and the critical building block for the KC-46 missionized aerial refueler. The maiden flight took off at 9:29 AM PST from Paine Field in Everett, Washington, and landed at […]https://www.defencetalk.com/boeing-completes-successful-first-flight-in-kc-46-program-61226/

DefenceTalkThe KC-46 program has made good progress over the past year—acquisition costs have remained relatively stable, the critical design review was successfully completed, the program is on track to meet performance parameters, and the contractor started building development aircraft. As shown, total program acquisition costs—which include development, production, and military construction costs—and unit costs have […]https://www.defencetalk.com/kc-46-tanker-aircraft-program-on-track-but-upcoming-schedule-remains-challenging-59302/

DefenceTalkBoeing is assembling the fourth and final KC-46A test aircraft for the U.S. Air Force’s next-generation aerial refueling tanker program at the company’s Everett factory, keeping the program on track to deliver the initial 18 tankers to the Air Force by 2017. “All four test aircraft are moving through production to support our transition to […]https://www.defencetalk.com/boeing-starts-assembly-of-final-kc-46a-test-aircraft-50153/