Initial Aircraft Will Be Delivered In October Of This Year

The first KC-26A tanker will be delivered this fall, according to a statement from the U.S. Air Force.

“As a result of months of collaboration, the Air Force and Boeing KC-46A teams have reached an agreed joint program schedule to get to the first 18 aircraft deliveries. This includes the expectation the first KC-46A aircraft acceptance and delivery will occur in October 2018, with the remaining 17 aircraft delivered by April 2019,” Air Force Under Secretary Matt Donovan said in a statement.

“While the KC-46A flight test program is nearly complete, significant work remains. The Air Force is looking forward to KC-46A first delivery and will continue to work with Boeing on opportunities to expedite the program.”

Defense News reports that Boeing and the Air Force have been at odds for months about when the first airplane will be delivered. Boeing has said that it will delivery a total of 18 of the tankers this year, but the Air Force has never been that optimistic. The announcement appears to be a compromise between the two.

“In partnership with the U.S. Air Force, our team has made great progress on the KC-46 tanker,” Boeing said in a statement. “With first delivery now set, the men and women of the Air Force know when they will start receiving this warfighting capability. The KC-46 is a top priority for The Boeing Company, and we have the best of Boeing working to ensure the U.S. Air Force gets their tankers as quickly as possible.”

But Defense News reports that there are still three outstanding category-1 deficiencies in the program. That means there are critical technical issues that do not currently have a solution. Two of those involve a remote camera and sensor system allowing the boom operator to steer the fueling boom to the receiving aircraft. The third involves the mechanical lock system on the centerline drogue system. Boeing feels that all three can be remedied with software upgrades.

Congressman Rick Larsen (D-WA), one of the senior Democrats on the House Armed Services Committee who represents Seattle, welcomed the announcement. “The best aerospace workers in the world are the women and men at Boeing’s Everett factory. The delivery of the first KC-46A tanker to the U.S. Air Force will be an important step in ensuring our military has the tools they need to keep our communities safe,” said Rep. Larsen. “The new tanker will enhance readiness in the aerial refueling and strategic airlift missions and offer better protection in a wider range of threat environments,” Larsen said in a statement.  

(Image from file)

FMI: Original report, larsen.house.gov