The Boeing Co., Tukwila, Washington, has been awarded a $398,244,094 firm-fixed-price modification to supply order FA8609-18-F-0006 for KC-46A Japan plane underneath the essential ordering settlement contract car. The contract modification is for the procurement of two plane for the Japan Air Self-Protection Power (JASDF) fleet. Work might be carried out in Everett, Washington, and is predicted to be accomplished June 30, 2025. That is the results of a sole-source acquisition. This modification includes International Navy Gross sales (FMS) to Japan and FMS funds are being obligated on the time of award. Air Power U.S. Life Cycle Administration Heart, Wright-Patterson Air Power Base, Ohio, is the contracting exercise.

The Boeing KC-46 Pegasus is an American navy aerial refueling and strategic navy transport plane developed by Boeing from its 767 jet airliner. In February 2011, the tanker was chosen by the U.S. Air Power because the winner within the KC-X tanker competitors to exchange older Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers. The primary plane was delivered to the Air Power in January 2019. The KC-46 Pegasus is a variant of the Boeing 767 and is a widebody, low-wing cantilever monoplane with a standard empennage that includes a single fin and rudder. It has a retractable tricycle touchdown gear and a hydraulic flight management system. The Pegasus is powered by two Pratt & Whitney PW4062 engines, one mounted underneath every wing.

Commercial

Japan Air Self-Protection Power KC-46 Multirole Air-To-Air Refueling Tanker. (Picture by Japan Ministry of Protection)

It has been described as combining “the 767-200ER’s fuselage, with the 767-300F’s wing, gear, cargo door and flooring, with the 767-400ER digital flightdeck and flaps”. The KC-46 makes use of an analogous Maneuvering Traits Augmentation System (MCAS) to that implicated in two 737 MAX crashes; in March 2019, the USAF started reviewing KC-46 coaching because of this function. Not like the 737, the KC-46’s MCAS takes enter from twin redundant angle of assault sensors and disengages with stick enter by the pilot. The increase is furnished with a hydraulic aid valve system, much like these on the KC-10 and KC-767 tankers, to alleviate axial strain within the occasion of extreme hundreds increase on the increase.

On 23 October 2015, Japan chosen the KC-46, with a contract for 3 tankers anticipated in 2016. The choice permits for widespread operations and coaching with the U.S. Air Power, and Japan was reportedly interested in its functionality to refuel MV-22 Osprey tiltrotors, which the JASDF is to obtain. The three tankers are to be fielded round 2020 at a price of greater than ¥20.8 billion, about US$173 million per plane. The JASDF reportedly sought to accumulate a complete of six KC-46s.[126] An order for a 3rd and fourth KC-46 was positioned on 30 October 2020. On 8 February 2021, the JASDF performed its first KC-46 flight. Coaching of Japanese KC-46 pilots started in June 2021 and Japan acquired its first KC-46 in November 2021.