The KC-46 Pegasus program completed all flight tests required for the Milestone C production decision July 15 by offloading 1,500 pounds/680 kg of fuel to an A-10 Thunderbolt II.
The successful A-10 mission was the last of six in-flight refueling demonstrations required before the tanker program can request approval from Frank Kendall, the under secretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, to award production Lots 1 and 2, totaling 19 Boeing KC-46A aircraft.
«It is great to see the KC-46 boom back in action and the program moving forward to a production decision», said Colonel John Newberry, the KC-46 system program manager.
The other five required air refueling demonstrations were with the C-17 Globemaster III and F-16 Fighting Falcon using the air refueling boom, the Navy’s F-18 Hornet and AV-8B Harrier II using the centerline and wing drogue systems, and the KC-46 as a receiver aircraft.
«Today’s flight marks the final step we needed to see on the boom fix in order to request production go-ahead», said Brigadier General Duke Richardson, the Air Force program executive officer for tankers. «Our joint team’s tireless efforts are paying off, preparing us for the next step of this critical need to our warfighter».
This test would not have been possible without contributions from the 412th Test Wing, 23rd Fighter Wing, 355th FW, 124th FW, 896th Test Support Squadron and 40th Flight Test Squadron, which all provided aircraft, manpower and equipment.
The Milestone C decision to begin Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) is expected in August.
General Characteristics
| Primary Function | Aerial refueling and airlift |
| Prime Contractor | The Boeing Company |
| Power Plant | 2 × Pratt & Whitney 4062 |
| Thrust | 62,000 lbs/275.8 kN/28,123 kgf – Thrust per High-Bypass engine (sea-level standard day) |
| Wingspan | 157 feet, 8 inches/48.1 m |
| Length | 165 feet, 6 inches/50.5 m |
| Height | 52 feet, 10 inches/15.9 m |
| Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) | 415,000 lbs/188,240 kg |
| Maximum Landing Weight | 310,000 lbs/140,614 kg |
| Fuel Capacity | 212,299 lbs/96,297 kg |
| Maximum Transfer Fuel Load | 207,672 lbs/94,198 kg |
| Maximum Cargo Capacity | 65,000 lbs/29,484 kg |
| Maximum Airspeed | 360 KCAS (Knots Calibrated AirSpeed)/0.86 M/414 mph/667 km/h |
| Service Ceiling | 43,100 feet/13,137 m |
| Maximum Distance | 7,299 NM/8,400 miles/13,518 km |
| Pallet Positions | 18 pallet positions |
| Air Crew | 15 permanent seats for aircrew, including aeromedical evacuation aircrew |
| Passengers | 58 total (normal operations); up to 114 total (contingency operations) |
| Aeromedical Evacuation | 58 patients (24 litters/34 ambulatory) with the AE Patient Support Pallet configuration; 6 integral litters carried as part of normal aircraft configuration equipment |