KC-46A Tanker Squadrons

Mission — KC-46A Tanker Squadrons source

Replacement of the legacy tanker fleet will take place in several stages. The initial tanker replacement increment of KC-46As will replace roughly a third of the current capability. Future programs will ultimately recapitalize the entire tanker fleet over a period of more than 30 years. The Air Force completed an Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) in Apr 2006 to determine the most appropriate strategy to recapitalize the aging fleet of aerial refueling aircraft. Based on this analysis, the Air Force concluded a strategy of full and open competition to select a commercial derivative replacement tanker aircraft would result in a best value tanker contract. To initiate the first phase of the tanker replacement, the KC-46A program released a final Request for Proposal (RFP) on 24 Feb 2010, and entered source selection on 9 Jul 2010. The KC-46A program held a Milestone B (MS B) Defense Acquisition Board (DAB) on 23 Feb 2011, received approval to enter Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) from the Undersecretary of Defense (Acquisition, Technology and Logistics) (USD(AT&L)) on 24 Feb 2011, and awarded the KC-46A EMD contract to Boeing on 24 Feb 2011 to develop and procure 179 KC-46A aircraft. The program is procuring four RDT&E aircraft for integration and demonstration of capability which will ultimately be operationally fielded. During production and with the recent program of record increase, the program plans to procure 179 production aircraft through 13 lots (+ 4 EMD aircraft) for a total of 183 aircraft. The KC-46A program held a MS C DAB on 12 Aug 2016 and received approval to enter Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP). The program has awarded LRIP lots 1-11 with lot 11 put on contract 21 Nov 2024 bringing total number of aircraft to 154 on the production contract. The first DD250 was signed on 10 Jan 2019. The Air Force delivered the first KC-46A to McConnell Air Force Base on 25 Jan 2019. As of 18 Jun 2025, 94 aircraft have been delivered to the Air Force via DD250. Initial sustainment effort is provided via Interim Contractor Support (ICS) as the program is transitioning to organic sustainment. KC-46A funding also supports Training Systems, Support Equipment, Operational Site Activation, Depot Stand-Up, Alternate Mission Equipment (AME), Direct Mission Support, Program Support Costs (PSC) activities, Other Government Costs (OGC), various studies and analyses, future tanker planning activities, long lead items, and potential Diminishing Manufacturing Sources (DMS) and obsolescence planning activities. In addition to its air refueling capability, the KC-46 is planned to be a key joint and coalition communications node. The KC-46A will provide the capability to fuel joint and coalition receivers via a boom or drogue system on every mission and will also augment the airlift fleet with cargo, passenger, and aeromedical evacuation capabilities. The KC-46A will operate in day, night, and adverse weather conditions to enable deployment, employment, sustainment, and redeployment of U.S. joint, allied, and coalition forces. The KC-46A will have communication, navigation, and surveillance equipment for world-wide operations; the capability to perform missions in chemical and biological environments; the ability to operate in up to medium threat environments with self-defense/protection (both active and passive) capabilities; and the necessary battle space awareness to mitigate survivability threats. Mobility Air Forces (MAF) Connectivity is a requirement for Line-of-Sight (LOS) and Beyond-Line-of-Sight (BLOS) connectivity capability on the KC-46A to provide the communications resiliency and bandwidth via integration of Multi-band, Multi-orbit SATCOM terminal and array installation to allow the selective movement between satellite constellations, resulting in over 20 Mbps required for the data rate pace needed for C2 in a near-peer fight. This will enable maximum MAF connectivity and real-time secure command and control for aircrew situational awareness. The Aircrew Training System (ATS) and Maintenance Training System (MTS) provide critical capabilities for KC-46A aircrew. The ATS contract will provide Aircrew Training Devices (ATDs), to include Weapon System Trainers (WSTs), Boom Operator Trainers (BOTs), Fuselage Trainers (FuTs), Part-Task Trainers (PTTs), and emerging technologies to meet validated Air Mobility Command (AMC) aircrew training requirements at each Main Operating Base (MOB) and the Formal Training Unit (FTU). The ATS contract will also support Distributed Mission Operations (DMO), provide aircrew instruction, develop courseware, provide logistics support, acquire a technical data package to support future competition efforts, and manage training device/courseware concurrency with the aircraft. Option year nine was put on Un-definitized Contract Action (UCA) 10 Oct 2023. Option year nine definitized in March 2024. Option 10 was awarded on 14 Aug 2024. The MTS focus is on designing, developing, testing, producing, and fielding an optimized training system for KC-46A maintainers by integrating various forms of training media and Maintenance Training Devices (MTDs) into a "blended" solution. This blended solution includes the appropriate mix of hardware and software, "high-fidelity" Augmented Hardware Training Devices (AHTDs), Part Task Trainers (PTTs), Interactive Multimedia Instruction (IMI), and emerging technologies to meet validated AMC maintenance training requirements. Tanker Production Extension initiates planning, risk reduction, Request for Proposal (RFP) Development, and other pre-production activities (including obsolescence mitigation) to acquire additional aircraft upon completion of on-going KC-46 production. This requirement supports performance of a full financial audit as required by U.S.C. Title 10, Subtitle A, Part I, Chapter 9A, Sec 240-D, Financial Improvement and Audit Remediation (FIAR) Plan. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605827F, 0605828F, 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605832F, 0605833F, 0605898F, 0606398F. In FY 2024 $3.058 million was expended for civilian pay expenses in this program element, and in FY 2025 $3.823 million is forecast for civilian pay expenses in this program element. The FY 2026 request was reduced by $1.681 million for Advisory and Assistance Services to promote efficiencies and advance the policies of the Administration in alignment with Executive Order 14222, "Implementing the President's Department of Government Efficiency Cost Efficiency Initiative.” This program is in Budget Activity 5, System Development and Demonstration (SDD) because it has passed Milestone B approval and is conducting engineering and manufacturing development tasks aimed at meeting validated requirements prior to full rate production.

Mission — Tanker Production Extension source

When KC-46A procurement completes, the Air Force will maintain continuous recapitalization of the KC-135 fleet by procuring additional tanker aircraft under the Tanker Production Extension project. The Air Force plans to use the KC-46A Capability Production Document as the most affordable requirements basis for Tanker Production Extension. Acquisition strategy approval is anticipated in FY 2025, followed by acquisition documentation development, market research, detailed acquisition planning, RFP development, future tanker development, risk and issue assessment, risk and issue mitigation, and other studies and analysis in FY 2026. The Air Force anticipates that Diminishing Manufacturing Sources & Materiel Shortages (DMSMS) and obsolescence will be the top issues. This requirement supports performance of a full financial audit as required by title 10 U.S.C. Chapter 9A, Sec 240-D. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605827F, 0605828F, 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605832F, 0605833F, 0605898F, 0606398F. In FY 2024 $0.000 million was expended for civilian pay expenses in this program element, and in FY 2025 $0.000 million is forecasted for civilian pay expenses in this program element.

Mission — Pegasus Capability Improvements source

The KC-46A will provide the capability to fuel joint and coalition receivers via a boom or drogue system on every mission and will also augment the airlift fleet with cargo, passenger, and aeromedical evacuation capabilities. The KC-46A will operate in day/night and adverse weather conditions to enable deployment, employment, sustainment, and redeployment of U.S. joint, allied, and coalition forces. The KC-46A will have communication, navigation, and surveillance equipment for worldwide operations; the capability to perform missions in chemical and biological environments; the ability to operate in up to medium threat environments with self-defense/protection (both active and passive) capabilities; and the necessary battlespace awareness to mitigate survivability threats. The dynamics and mission urgency of the post-production (post-DD-250) environment require the program to maintain a flexible and responsive posture to support a broad range of mission support needs. The KC-46A will continue to identify, design, develop, integrate, verify, certify, produce, install, field, and sustain a comprehensive range of non-recurring and recurring post-production, air vehicle enhancements and field support needs. These needs may originate from programmed Mobility Air Forces (MAF) requirements, Combatant Commander Joint or Urgent Operational Needs (JUON/UON), non-programmed Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) directives, requirements identified and supported by HHQ Enterprise Capability Collaboration Teams (i.e., High Value Airborne Asset [HVAA], Air Superiority 2030, and Multi-Domain Command and Control [MDC2]), or correction of field deficiencies. The KC-46A will continue to develop, field, and sustain warfighter capabilities to meet evolving threats and mission support requirements through Block or discrete modification or modernization programs depending on mission urgency, available funding, and programmatic and technical risks. Post-production requirements can include but will not be limited to avionics and structural systems/ architecture and subsystem updates, general mission equipment updates and procurement, general sustainment support, studies and analyses, future Tanker requirements simulation and training, and correction of field deficiencies. The next communication Block modernization upgrade requirements are the Block 2 modernization program and MAF connectivity. These capabilities entail the integration of secure communication, navigation, informational systems and providing advanced connectivity and communication capability. Mobility Air Forces (MAF) Connectivity is a requirement for Line-of-Sight (LOS) and Beyond-Line-of-Sight (BLOS) connectivity capability on the KC-46A to provide the communications resiliency and bandwidth via integration of Multi-band, Multi-orbit SATCOM terminal and array installation to allow the selective movement between satellite constellations, resulting in higher Mbps required for the data rate pace needed for C2 in a near-peer fight. This will enable maximum MAF connectivity and real-time secure command and control for aircrew situational awareness. The KC-46A Block 1 Pegasus Advanced Communications Suite (PACS) program will satisfy Department of Defense (DoD), National Security Agency (NSA), Department of Transportation (DoT), and USAF mandates by upgrading legacy Tactical Data Link 16, Beyond Line-of-Sight (BLOS) Ultra High Frequency (UHF) Line-of-Sight (LOS) capabilities with next-generation Link 16 terminals and UHF secure, global, BLOS and anti-jam LOS satellite voice communications capabilities for the KC-46A weapon system. PACS enables compatibility and interoperability with current and planned future joint and allied forces while simultaneously increasing the survivability of secure global voice and data communications capabilities between Mobility AirForce (MAF) C2 agencies and MAF aircraft operating worldwide in or near contested environments. Project 651120 funding will also support Program Support Costs (PSC) activities, test support, mission planning capability development and various studies and analyses. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such programs funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605827F, 0605828F, 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605832F, 0605833F, 0605898F, and 0606398F. In FY 2024 $3.058 million was expended for civilian pay expenses in this program element, FY 2025 $3.823 million is forecast for civilian pay expenses.

Mission — KC-46 RDT&E source

Replacement of the legacy tanker fleet will take place in several stages. The initial tanker replacement increment of KC-46As will replace roughly a third of the current capability. Future programs will ultimately recapitalize the entire tanker fleet over a period of more than 30 years. The Air Force completed an Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) in Apr 2006 to determine the most appropriate strategy to recapitalize the aging fleet of aerial refueling aircraft. Based on this analysis, the Air Force concluded a strategy of full and open competition to select a commercial derivative replacement tanker aircraft would result in a best value tanker contract. To initiate the first phase of the tanker replacement, the KC-46A program released a final Request for Proposal (RFP) on 24 Feb 2010, and entered source selection on 9 Jul 2010. The KC-46A program held a Milestone B (MS B) Defense Acquisition Board (DAB) on 23 Feb 2011, received approval to enter Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) from the Undersecretary of Defense (Acquisition, Technology and Logistics) (USD(AT&L)) on 24 Feb 2011, and awarded the KC-46A EMD contract to Boeing on 24 Feb 2011 to develop and procure 179 KC-46 aircraft. The program is procuring four RDT&E aircraft for integration and demonstration of capability which will ultimately be operationally fielded. During production, the program plans to procure 183 aircraft throughout 13 lots. The KC-46A program held a MS C DAB on 12 Aug 2016 and received approval to enter Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP). The program awarded LRIP Lots 1 and 2 on 18 Aug 2016, LRIP Lot 3 on 27 Jan 2017, LRIP Lot 4 on 10 Sep 2018, and LRIP Lot 5 on 27 Sep 2019. Lot 6 awarded on 12 Jan 2021, Lot 7 awarded on 20 Jan 2021, Lot 8 awarded 31 Aug 2022, Lot 9 awarded 27 Jan 2023, Lot 10 was converted to LRIP on 17 Nov 2023 and was put on contract 28 Nov 2023, and Lot 11 was awarded on 21 Nov 2025 bringing the total number of aircraft on production contract to 154. Initial sustainment effort is provided via Interim Contractor Support (ICS) as the program is transitioning to organic sustainment. KC-46A funding also supports Training Systems, Support Equipment, Operational Site Activation, Depot Stand-Up, Alternate Mission Equipment (AME), Direct Mission Support, Program Support Costs (PSC) activities, Other Government Costs (OGC), various studies and analyses, future tanker planning activities, long lead items, and potential Diminishing Manufacturing Sources (DMS) and obsolescence planning activities. The KC-46A has been validated at the Joint Requirements Oversight Council (JROC) multiple times from Nov 2004 to Apr 2024, and is a critical force extender in our Joint Warfighting Concept. In addition to its air refueling capability, the KC-46 is planned to be a key joint and coalition communications node. The KC-46A will provide the capability to fuel joint and coalition receivers via a boom or drogue system on every mission and will also augment the airlift fleet with cargo, passenger, and aeromedical evacuation capabilities. The KC-46A will operate in day, night, and adverse weather conditions to enable deployment, employment, sustainment, and redeployment of U.S. joint, allied, and coalition forces. The KC-46A will have communication, navigation, and surveillance equipment for world-wide operations; the capability to perform missions in chemical and biological environments; the ability to operate in up to medium threat environments with self-defense/protection (both active and passive) capabilities; and the necessary battle space awareness to mitigate survivability threats. The first DD250 was signed on 10 Jan 2019. The Air Force delivered the first KC-46A to McConnell Air Force Base on 25 Jan 2019. As of 18 Jun 2025, 94 aircraft have been delivered to the Air Force via DD250. The Aircrew Training System (ATS) and Maintenance Training System (MTS) are being procured using KC-46A funding. The ATS contract was awarded on 1 May 2013 to Flight Safety Services Corporation, now known as Flight Safety International - Defense. The ATS contract will provide Aircrew Training Devices (ATDs), to include Weapon System Trainers (WSTs), Boom Operator Trainers (BOTs), Fuselage Trainers (FuTs), Part-Task Trainers (PTTs), and emerging technologies to meet validated Air Mobility Command (AMC) aircrew training requirements at each Main Operating Base (MOB) and the Formal Training Unit (FTU). The ATS contract will also support Distributed Mission Operations (DMO), provide aircrew instruction, develop courseware, provide logistics support, acquire a technical data package to support future competition efforts, and manage training device/courseware concurrency with the aircraft. The first eight ATS production options were exercised on 19 Aug 2015, 31 May 2017, 30 Apr 2018, 31 Mar 2019, 27 Feb 2020, 4 Mar 2021, 24 Feb 2022, and 15 Nov 2022. Option nine was put on Un-definitized Contract Action (UCA) on 10 Oct 2023. Definitization took place in March 2024. Option 10 was awarded 14 Aug 2024. The MTS contract was awarded 6 Jul 2016 to The Boeing Company. The MTS acquisition focuses on designing, developing, testing, producing, and fielding an optimized training system for KC-46A maintainers by integrating various forms of training media and Maintenance Training Devices (MTDs) into a "blended" solution. This blended solution includes the appropriate mix of hardware and software, "high-fidelity" Augmented Hardware Training Devices (AHTDs), Part Task Trainers (PTTs), Interactive Multimedia Instruction (IMI), and emerging technologies to meet validated AMC maintenance training requirements. The KC-46A Program is responsible for the development, testing, and production of a drogue-equipped, wing-mounted refueling system to meet Capability Production Document (CPD) thresholds and objectives for simultaneous refueling of two probe-equipped receivers. The system can be installed or removed from the KC-46A as mission needs dictate. Project 655271 funding will support 801X storage container along with various capability studies to include Boom Control Logic and Diphase studies. This requirement supports performance of a full financial audit as required by U.S.C. Title 10, Subtitle A, Part I, Chapter 9A, Sec 240-D, Financial Improvement and Audit Remediation (FIAR) Plan. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605827F, 0605828F, 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605832F, 0605833F, 0605898F, and 0606398F. In FY 2024 $0.000 million was expended for civilian pay expenses in this program element, FY 2025 $0.000 million is forecast for civilian pay expenses.

Accomplishments & Planned Programs (11)