Printed from https://fiscalreceipts.com/program/KC046A/ — data as of July 28, 2026. Every figure is citation-backed; see the page online for per-number provenance.
KC-46A MDAP
Budget Figures
FY2026 award data is a partial year — USASpending awards are reported on a rolling basis and the fiscal year does not close until September 30. why partial FY2026 data? →
- FY24
- $2.78B
- FY26
- $2.82B
● actuals (line) · ○ enacted · ◇ request — gaps are editions the program is absent from, never interpolated.
| Series | FY22 | FY23 | FY24 | FY25 | FY26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Actuals | $2.29B | $2.46B | $2.78B | ||
| Enacted | – | $2.46B | $2.88B | $2.80B | |
| Request | – | – | $2.88B | $2.88B | $2.82B |
blank = series not published for this year; – = absent from that edition.
Asked vs spent: the PB2024 book requested $2.88B for FY2024; the PB2026 book reports $2.78B actually spent — $98.7M below the request.
Program Lineage
No predecessor/successor lineage was recorded for this program element — no FY-to-FY transfer into or out of this line was stated in the ingested J-books, and none was inferred from the program structure.
Description
Description — KC-46A MDAP
Replacement of the legacy tanker fleet will take place in several stages. The initial tanker replacement increment of KC-46s 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-46 program released a final Request for Proposal (RFP) on 24 Feb 2010, and entered source selection on 9 Jul 2010. The KC-46 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-46 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 and with the recent program of record increase, the program plans to procure 183 aircraft through 13 lots. The KC-46 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 awarded 23 Nov 2023, and Lot 11 on 21 Nov 2024, bringing the total number of aircraft on production contract to 154. Initial sustainment effort was provided via Interim Contractor Support (ICS) as the program is transitioning to organic sustainment. KC-46 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 (i.e. future efficiency and energy efficiency initiatives), future tanker replacement 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 04 to Apr 24, 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-46 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-46 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-46 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-46 to McConnell Air Force Base on 25 Jan 2019. As of 2 June 2025, 93 aircraft have been delivered to the Air Force via DD250. Mobility Air Forces Connectivity Efforts: Aircraft 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 Mobility Air Forces (MAF) connectivity and real-time secure command and control for aircrew situational awareness. The Aircrew Training System (ATS) and Maintenance Training System (MTS) are being procured using KC-46 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 nine 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, 02 Feb 2023, and 30 Jan 2024. ATS definitized production option 10 in August 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-46 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. An MTS initial production option for 19 Virtual Maintenance Training Systems (VMTS) classrooms was exercised on 15 Jun 2017 in support of Main Operating Base (MOB) #1's ready for training dates. In addition, on 5 Aug 2019 an option was exercised to acquire the remaining two Flight Deck Avionics Trainers (FDAT) to complete the compliment of hardware training devices for McConnell AFB (MOB #1). Advanced Wiring and Electrical Repair Training Device (AWERT) for McGuire AFB (MOB 4a) was awarded on 03 March 2023. Flight Deck/Avionics Maintenance Training Device (FDAT) and Engine/APU Maintenance Training (EAPU) for MOB 4a and 4b were awarded on 12 December 2022. DD250s for all the classrooms at MOB1 were signed and delivery was made in December 2018. MTS awarded Aerial Refueling Maintenance Training Device (ART) and Flight Controls Maintenance Training Device (FCT) options in 25 August 2023 for Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst AFB (MOB 4a) and Travis AFB (MOB 4b). The MS B acquisition strategy planned for two LRIP lots followed by 11 Full-Rate Production (FRP) lots for a total aircraft procurement of 175 production aircraft. An update to the acquisition strategy occurred in support of MS C that increased LRIP from two to four lots, with the total aircraft buy remaining at 183 production aircraft. The MS C acquisition strategy for Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) changed from Contractor Furnished Equipment (CFE) to Government Furnished Property (GFP) in FY 2017 and FY 2017 funding procured LAIRCM for Lot 3 and Lot 4 aircraft. FY 2025 funding provides for the procurement of LAIRCM in time to support Lot 13 aircraft production. A Dec 2017 USD(AT&L) Acquisition Decision Memorandum expanded LRIP to include Lot 5. Another Program Deviation Report was submitted on June 8, 2020, to declare a breach to the Full Rate Production Decision. A new APB dated 19 Oct 2020 was approved, and an ADM dated 20 Oct 2020 re-designated Lots 6 through 9 as LRIP. Approval to convert Lot 10 to LRIP was signed on 17 November 2023 As of 3 Jan 2024, budget was included to increase aircraft quantities from 175 to 179 through 13 Lot buys. Note: Initial Spares were procured with Aircraft Procurement, Air Force (APAF), Aircraft Weapon System funding in FY 2015 and transitioned to APAF, Aircraft Initial Spares and Repairs funding in FY 2016. Spare engines are included within the Initial Spares line. KC-46 is code B as it has not yet completed a Full Rate Production decision. The KC-46 program successfully completed Critical Design Review (CDR) in Aug 2013. Live Fire Testing began in Apr 2011 and completed in FY 2016. KC-46 First Flight occurred on 25 Sep 2015. Developmental Test and Evaluation (DT&E) completed in the first quarter of FY 2019 with the use of LRIP aircraft. Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) formally began in Oct 2019 and is still-ongoing, with completion projected in FY27, after relevant performance deficiencies are resolved, and necessary test and reporting is accomplished; as of 16 May 2025. In accordance with Section 1815 of the FY 2008 National Defense Authorization Act (P.L. 110-181), the KC-46 is necessary for use by the active and reserve components of the Armed Forces for homeland defense missions, domestic emergency responses, and providing military support to civil authorities. The FY2026 request was reduced by $6.287 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." Funding may be used to address Diminishing Manufacturing Sources (DMS) issues. Funding for this exhibit is contained in PE 0401221F. This requirement (or modification) supports performance of a full financial audit as required by title 10 U.S.C. Chapter 9A, Sec 240-D
Description — KC-46A MDAP
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-46 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-46 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-46 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 dynamics and mission urgency of the post-production environment requires the program to maintain flexible and responsive posture to support a broad range of mission support needs. The KC-46 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 Force (MAF) requirements, Combatant Commander Joint or Urgent Operational Needs (JUON/UON), non-programmed Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) directives, or correction of deficiency reports. The KC-46 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, and correction of deficiency reports. Other modifications to the KC-46 through FY 2030 include, but are not limited to: Connectivity, Reliability & Maintainability mods, Safety mods, Avionics and Flight Systems enhancements, Pegasus Advanced Communications Suite (PACS) modification, efforts executed under the auspices of Pegasus Combat Capability (PC2) (M-Code Global Positioning System (GPS), Multifunctional Information Distribution Systems (MIDS) Enhancements, Advanced Communication Systems, Survivability and Mission Performance), requirements identified and supported by Major Command (MAJCOM)-approved 1067s, Higher Headquarters (HHQ) Enterprise Capability Collaboration Teams (i.e., High Value Airborne Asset [HVAA], Air Superiority 2030, and Multi-Domain Command and Control [MDC2]), Airworthiness Directives (ADs)/Service Bulletins (SBs), and Low Cost Modifications (LCMs). Aircraft 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 higher Mbps required for the data rate pace needed for C2 in a near-peer fight. This will enable maximum Mobility Air Forces (MAF) connectivity and real-time secure command and control for aircrew situational awareness. Funding for this exhibit contained in PE 0401221F. Funding may be used to address Diminishing Manufacturing Sources (DMS) issues. The FY 2026 request was reduced by $0.150 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 requirement (or modification) supports performance of a full financial audit as required by title 10 U.S.C. Chapter 9A, Sec 240-D.
Justification
Justification — KC-46A MDAP
The FY 2026 budget supports the procurement of 15 KC-46A aircraft along with other necessary associated expenses to deliver, sustain, and maintain the Lot 12 aircraft, to include Support Equipment, Operational Site Activation, Depot Stand-Up, Interim Contractor Support, Alternate Mission Equipment (e.g., Thermal Curtains, Palletized Seating), and Direct Mission Support. FY 2026 funding provides for the procurement of Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) in support of Lot 13 aircraft production. It also funds continued production of low-technical risk parts of the corrected Boom Telescope Actuator kits that require approximately 30 months to manufacture; this enables depot kit installs starting in FY 2027 during regular C-checks. Program support costs activities for contractor services and other government costs are included in the FY 2026 funding. The FY 2026 funding will also support studies and analyses, potential diminishing manufacturing sources, and obsolescence solutions, to include if optimal, life of type buys or bridge buys limited to the program of record quantity. The KC-46 FY 2026 funding will include aircrew training system procurement of aircrew training devices and compulsory elements required to support aircrew training throughput levels as identified by Air Mobility Command.
Justification — KC-46A MDAP
This program, P-3A Mod 4602, Pegasus Advanced Communications Suite (PACS), is a new start. FY 2026 funding will procure the initial 12 kits for the Pegasus Advanced Communications Suite (PACS) modification.
Budget Line Items(workbook-cited)
Exhibit P-1
| Account | Org | Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aircraft Procurement, Air Force | F | FY24 Actuals | $2.78B |
| Aircraft Procurement, Air Force | F | FY25 Enacted | $25.0M |
| Aircraft Procurement, Air Force | F | FY25 Enacted | $2.78B |
| Aircraft Procurement, Air Force | F | FY26 Disc. Request | $2.80B |
| Aircraft Procurement, Air Force | F | FY26 Disc. Request | $19.3M |
| Aircraft Procurement, Air Force | F | FY26 Total | $2.80B |
| Aircraft Procurement, Air Force | F | FY26 Total | $19.3M |
Budget Details(R-2/P-40 facts)
| Project | All Prior Years | FY24 Actuals | FY25 Total | FY26 Base | FY26 Request |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Program Element | $3.29M | $0 | $25.0M | $19.3M | $19.3M |
| Program Element | $20.0B | $2.78B | $2.78B | $2.80B | $2.80B |
No follow-the-dollar view — this program's awards haven't been crosswalked at high confidence (flows cover 17 of 1741 programs). why coverage is partial? →
Awards
No awards are linked to this program element at high confidence — the budget→award crosswalk only asserts links it can defend, and this line has none yet.
Lobbying Mentions
No Senate LDA lobbying filing in the tracked data mentions this program element by code or alias.
Program dossier
Every sentence below carries its citation — warehouse figures open the citation panel, news claims link the cached source.
Research dossiers exist for 50 of 1741 programs — the 50 largest fully J-book-detailed programs by FY2026 request. why no dossier here? →
What it is
- KC-46A MDAP (budget line KC046A) is a U.S. Air Force procurement program, a Major Defense Acquisition Program funded in the Aircraft Procurement, Air Force account.
- The KC-46 is a commercial-derivative aerial-refueling tanker that also serves as a key joint and coalition communications node, providing fuel to receivers via boom or drogue and augmenting the airlift fleet with cargo, passenger, and aeromedical-evacuation capabilities.
- The aircraft is validated by the Joint Requirements Oversight Council multiple times from November 2004 to April 2024 and is described as a critical force extender in the Joint Warfighting Concept, able to operate day and night and in adverse weather in up to medium-threat environments with self-defense capabilities.
- The KC-46 replaces the legacy tanker fleet in stages, with the initial increment replacing roughly a third of current capability; following an Analysis of Alternatives completed in April 2006, the Air Force chose full-and-open competition for a commercial-derivative replacement tanker.
- The Milestone B decision was reached on 23 February 2011 and the Engineering and Manufacturing Development contract was awarded to Boeing on 24 February 2011 to develop and procure 179 KC-46 aircraft; with a subsequent program-of-record increase, the program plans to procure 183 aircraft across 13 lots.
- The FY2026 budget supports procurement of 15 KC-46A aircraft (Lot 12) along with associated support equipment, operational site activation, depot stand-up, Interim Contractor Support, and government-furnished equipment for Lot 13 production.
Why it matters
- The program's main FY2026 procurement line requests $2,799,633 thousand (about $2.80 billion) in Aircraft Procurement, Air Force, all discretionary funding.
- That main line was enacted at $2,779,618 thousand (about $2.78 billion) in FY2025, so the FY2026 request is only modestly higher.
- In FY2024 the program recorded actual spending of $2,783,927 thousand (about $2.78 billion), keeping the FY2026 request close to its recent execution level.
- A separate, much smaller advance-procurement line requests $19,344 thousand (about $19.3 million) of discretionary funding in FY2026, down from $24,954 thousand enacted in FY2025.
- Beyond the aircraft themselves, FY2026 funding covers continued production of low-technical-risk parts of the corrected Boom Telescope Actuator kits — which take roughly 30 months to manufacture — to enable depot kit installs starting in FY2027 during regular C-checks.
- The FY2026 request also funds a new start, the P-3A Mod 4602 Pegasus Advanced Communications Suite (PACS), procuring the initial 12 kits for that modification.
Key players
- The program is run by the U.S. Air Force, with funding drawn from the Aircraft Procurement, Air Force appropriation.
- Boeing is the KC-46 developer and producer, having been awarded the Engineering and Manufacturing Development contract on 24 February 2011 to develop and procure the aircraft.
- Aircrew-training-device procurement supports throughput levels identified by Air Mobility Command, the operating command whose requirements shape the program's training support.