Page 28 - Combat Aircraft (January 2020)

TYPE REPORT // BOEING KC-46

that certi cation is likely to take three to September: ‘When we accepted the KC-46A
four years. KC-46 with known Cat 1 de ciencies,
The KC-46A is not yet able to use its we did so with the belief that it o ered
underwing refueling pods. Boeing is the fastest route to achieve limited DELIVERY
moving forward with getting the wing operational capability and meet an
aerial refueling pods (WARPs) certi ed urgent war ghter requirement. Eight STATUS
by the Federal Aviation Administration months have passed since our rst
(FAA), though former US Air Force delivery, and Boeing has not made any Of the 179 KC-46s in the USAF’s
Secretary Heather Wilson said this will not progress on the remote vision system.’ program of record, 67 are currently
be achieved until June 2020. Within a month of these deliveries, on contract. In October, the Air
further problems had emerged, with Force Life Cycle Management
Deliveries under way the discovery of tools and other Center awarded Boeing a
$2.6-billion contract modi cation
The rst two squadron KC-46As for the loose articles in various locations that covers the production of 15
USAF were delivered from Boeing’s inside completed aircraft. Eight tools Lot 5 KC-46As, plus spares and
Everett facility in Washington to were found in aircraft that had been other support equipment as well
McConnell AFB, Kansas, on January delivered to Boeing’s Military Delivery as two spare engines and ve wing
aerial refueling pod kits. Boeing
25, 2019, almost two years later than Center (MDC) and two more in tankers had previously received its rst two
originally planned. The USAF agreed delivered to the USAF. The KC-46 is built production lots, for seven and 12
to accept the aircraft so pilot and ‘green’ on the main 767 assembly line at aircraft, in August 2016. The third Above: A KC-46A
boom operator training could begin. Everett before being transferred to the lot, for 15 aircraft, was awarded in Pegasus wearing
AMC commander Miller explained in MDC, where the aircraft are completed January 2017; the fourth lot for 18 test registration
aircraft in September 2018. N464KC connects
By October, 23 had been delivered with an F-15E
to four units: the 418th Flight Strike Eagle
during trials from
Test Squadron at Edwards AFB, Edwards AFB in
California; the 344th Air Refueling 2018. Boeing/
Squadron (ARS) of the 22nd Air John D. Parker
Refueling Wing (ARW) at McConnell
AFB, Kansas; the 56th ARS (the Left: Personnel
KC-46 training unit) under the 97th from the 60th
ARW at Altus AFB, Oklahoma; and Aerial Port
the Air National Guard’s 133rd ARS, Squadron prepare
which is part of the 157th ARW at to load cargo
onto a KC-46A
Pease Air National Guard Base, New at Travis AFB,
Hampshire. Delayed deliveries mean California. USAF/
that the USAF will seek to slow SrA Christian
down the retirement of the KC-135. Conrad

28 January 2020 // www.Key.Aero

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