The U.S. Dept. of Defense announced a $43.6-million, U.S. Air Force award to Boeing Defense for three years of support to its KC-46 tanker and heavy transport aircraft. The order is structured as a modification to a previously awarded contract, and runs through December 2027.
Boeing’s work under the award will be carried out at McConnell Air Force Base in Kansas; McGuire AFB in New Jersey; and Travis AFB in California.
The KC-46 is assembled at Boeing’s Everett, Wash., complex, which was among the operations hit by striking International Assn. of Machinist workers in September and October 2024. Recently, Boeing reported it delivered 10 of the aircraft in 2024.
The KC-46 was developed by Boeing for military aerial refueling and strategic military transport, based on the twin-engine, wide-body 767 platform. Reportedly it can refuel all allied and coalition military aircraft compatible with international aerial refueling procedures, and can carry passengers, cargo and patients.
The first aircraft were introduced in 2019, and the USAF has taken delivery of 89 KC-46 to date.
