The Boeing KC-46A Tanker, A Derivative Of The 767, Is Progressing But Behind Schedule

The Air Force’s first KC-46A tanker is going through ground testing at this time and the first flight is scheduled for this summer. If this schedule is maintained, full flight testing will be well underway by the end of this year.

However, according to an article in the Air Force Times, It’s still behind the original scheduled time line. It’s reported that Boeing has delayed production of the refueling boom by almost one year due to design changes and component delivery problems. “There’s always some risk in acquisition programs, and the KC-46A program is executing as well as any acquisition program that I’ve ever been involved in in 27 years,” Maj. Gen. John F. Thompson, the tanker’s executive program officer, told lawmakers April 2.

It’s reported that the Air Force estimated the development of the KC-46A program will be over budget by about $1.1 billion but Thompson is quoted as saying, “The rest of this will be borne by the contractor so long as I haven’t changed requirements, I’ve paid my bills on time. It’s really not a big issue for us from the standpoint of execution.”

According to the report, the Air Force is dealing with budget issues just like all other branches of the military service. In order to meet the congressional budgetary requirements, the Air Force is considering grounding its entire KC-10 fleet of aerial tankers. This grounding is reported to be planned to occur at the same time the KC-46A is brought into service.

(Image from file)

FMI: www.af.mil