Is The U.S. Air Force's KC-46A Pegasus Tanker A “Lemon”?

A F-16 flown by Maj Spencer Bell, 40th Flight Test Squadron test pilot, receives fuel from a KC-46 Pegasus, above, during a flutter mission at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., on Dec. 12, 2019. (Tech. Sgt. John Raven/U.S. Air Force) 

Warzone/The Drive: Air Force Says KC-46 Is A “Lemon” That It’s Trying To Make Lemonade Out Of 

The Air Force is evaluating using the Pegasus for limited operational missions, but it’s still years away from providing its intended mission set. 

The U.S. Air Force has described its bedeviled KC-46A Pegasus tanker as a “lemon,” amid ongoing problems that prevent it from performing its primary aerial refueling mission on a day-to-day basis. Now the Air Force is trying to find other ways to make use of these aircraft, of which it has already received 42 examples located at four operating bases. 

With deliveries set to continue at a rate of two aircraft per month, the service is now looking to put the Pegasus to work by fast-tracking at least some of the aircraft already delivered into “limited operations,” but probably not involving its core mission set of aerial refueling. Nevertheless, the move could enable the Pegasus to at least provide some utility during real-world operations as the Air Force counts down to the declaration of full operational capability, which won’t happen until late 2023 or 2024 at the earliest. 

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: What a way to describe this Air Force program .... "we’re making lemonade out of lemons” (Air Force General Jacqueline Van Ovost, Head of Air Mobility Command). 

 More News On The U.S. Air Force's KC-46A Pegasus Tanker Program 

Air Force study on future aerial refueling tanker could start in 2022 -- Defense News 

Air Force Hunts for Ways to Use Not-Quite-Ready Tankers -- Defense One 

AMC Hopes To Wrap Analysis Of Next-Gen Tanker Options In 2022 -- Breaking Defense

USAF, Boeing Make Progress on KC-46 Fixes -- Air Force Magazines 

US Air Force has a fix for two major KC-46 problems -- Defense News

Boeing Continues To Have Problems With Its KC-46 Tanker Program

A new 22nd Air Refueling Wing KC-46A Pegasus lands Dec. 20, 2019, at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas. (Airman 1st Class Alexi Bosarge/U.S. Air Force) 

Defense News: Boeing has another overrun on the KC-46, but its CEO says there’s reason for hope

WASHINGTON — Boeing reported another $67 million charge on the KC-46 tanker program in third-quarter earnings disclosed Oct. 28, capping off a difficult quarter defined by continued hardships on its commercial side. 

The increase in KC-46 costs was “due to continued COVID-19 disruptions and productivity inefficiencies,” Boeing’s chief financial officer, Greg Smith, told investors during an earnings call. 

However, Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun expressed confidence that the program would turn the corner in 2021 and become profitable for the company. 

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: The Boeing CEO says there's reason for hope?!?!?!? Cough cough. Hope is not a strategy.

U.S. Air Force Has Barred The Boeing-Built KC-46 From Carrying Cargo And Passengers

© US Air Force

Defense News: US Air Force restricts KC-46 from carrying cargo and passengers

WASHINGTON — In a move that could have major impacts on the already-delayed tanker program, the U.S. Air Force has indefinitely barred the KC-46 from carrying cargo and passengers, Defense News has learned.

The decision was made after an incident occurred where the cargo locks on the bottom of the floor of the aircraft became unlocked during a recent flight, creating concerns that airmen could potentially be hurt or even killed by heavy equipment that suddenly bursts free during a flight.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: Apparently the cargo locks on the bottom of the floor of the aircraft became unlocked during a recent flight, creating concerns that airmen could potentially be hurt or even killed by heavy equipment that suddenly bursts free during a flight.

And talk about bad timing. This malfunctioned occurred just after Boeing promised to speed up deliveries of the KC-46 .... As Criticism Mounts, Boeing Looks to Keep Pace With KC-46 Deliveries (National Defense)

More News On The U.S. Air Force Has Barring The Boeing-Built KC-46 From Carrying Cargo And Passengers

Air Force finds another problem with Boeing’s KC-46 tanker -- Seattle Times
USAF bans Boeing tanker from carrying passengers after it malfunctions during test flight -- RT
Incident prompts USAF to ban Boeing KC-46 from transporting cargo -- Aerotime News

U.S. Air Force Halts Deliveries For The Second Time Of Boeing KC-45 Tanker Aircraft

A KC-46 is displayed on Jan. 24 at Boeing's production facility in Everett, Wash., ahead of a ceremony marking the first KC-46 delivery. (Valerie Insinna/Staff)

Air Force Times: Air Force again halts KC-46 deliveries after more debris found

The Air Force has once again halted deliveries of the KC-46 Pegasus tanker from Boeing after more foreign object debris, or FOD, was found in some closed compartments of the aircraft.

Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson confirmed in a House Armed Services Committee hearing on the budget Tuesday morning that deliveries had been stopped for a second time. Wilson told Rep. Joe Courtney, D-Connecticut, that the Air Force is putting corrective actions in place, including requiring all closed compartments be inspected, “to make sure that the production line is being run the way that it needs to be run.”

Read more ....

More News On The U.S. Air Force Halting Deliveries For The Second Time Of Boeing KC-45 Tanker Aircraft

U.S. Air Force again halts deliveries of Boeing KC-46 tanker aircraft -- Reuters
Pentagon refuses Boeing tanker deliveries over quality issues -- France 24
U.S. Air Force Again Halts Delivery of Boeing’s Tanker Over Debris -- Seattle Times/Bloomberg
Boeing KC-46 Deliveries Halted, Again -- Breaking Defense
USAF stops Boeing KC-46 deliveries for second time after more FOD -- Flight global
Boeing is ramping up inspections after the US Air Force rejected its new KC-46 tanker planes again -- Business Insider
US Air Force again halts delivery of Boeing refueling plane over debris found onboard -- CNN

U.S. Air Force Accepts Its First KC-46A Tanker

.@USAirForce accepts Boeing's first #KC46 Pegasus next-gen tanker. Next stop for the world’s newest tanker: @22ARW #TeamMcConnell.
RELEASE: https://t.co/bQiocKhw0j pic.twitter.com/ttLGitljNq

— Boeing Defense (@BoeingDefense) January 10, 2019

Warzone/The Drive: USAF Finally Accepts Its First KC-46A Tanker, But The Design Still Needs Years Worth Of Fixes

Boeing will begin delivering the aircraft soon, but persistent issues with the refueling system will limit their operational utility in the near-term.

The U.S. Air Force has accepted the first Boeing KC-46A Pegasus tanker, an important milestone for the troubled program. However, the initial batch of aircraft will still have serious problems with their remote vision and refueling boom systems, meaning that the planes remain years away from reaching their full operational potential.

Foreign Policy was the first to report on the agreement between the Air Force and Boeing to proceed with the deliveries of the aircraft, citing anonymous sources, on Jan. 10, 2019. Defense News then reported that the Chicago-headquartered planemaker had agreed to fix the remaining deficiencies and that the Air Force’s top leadership reserved the right to withhold full payment for the planes – up to $1.5 billion in total if the service docks the company for each of the 52 aircraft in the first batch of planes – until it sees real progress.

Read more ....

More News On The U.S. Air Force Accepting Its First KC-46A Tanker

Air Force to Accept KC-46 Tanker Deliveries Despite Lingering Problems -- DoD Buzz
Boeing delivers first KC-46, but fixes to technical problems still years away -- Defense News
Air Force accepts Boeing's KC-46 tanker after a two-year delay and $3 billion in cost overruns -- CNBC
U.S. Air Force accepts first long-delayed KC-46 tanker jet -- Reuters
The Air Force finally takes ownership of its first Boeing tanker — with serious misgivings -- Seattle Times
US Air Force ready for delivery of first KC-46 tankers -- AFP
Air Force accepts first Boeing modern air tanker after years of delays -- Stars and Stripes
Despite flaws, Air Force accepts Boeing’s long-delayed and troubled tanker -- Washington Post
Air Force Accepts Flawed Boeing Tanker in a $44 Billion Program -- Bloomberg
Air Force OKs First KC-46 Delivery; Lots of Caveats -- Breaking Defense
Air Force accepts Boeing tankers despite ‘deficiencies’ -- Washington Examiner

The U.S. Air Force's KC-46 Will Be The First Air Tanker That Can Refuel Planes In Complete Darkness

Boeing's KC-46 © Christopher Okula / Reuters

RT: Boeing’s stealthy Pegasus air tankers to refuel USAF jets in complete darkness (PHOTOS)

The first air tanker in world military history that can refuel planes in complete darkness is undergoing tests ahead of the expected US Air Force acquisition. A total of 179 of Boeing’s KC-46 'Pegasus' tankers will be delivered by the end of the 2017.

The new fleet of ‘aerial gas stations’ are set to replace their predecessors, the KC-135 Stratotankers, which have been in service since the Eisenhower administration. In an emergency, the new KC-46 is also capable of carrying over 100 troops, 54 medical patients or 65,000 pounds (29,500 kg) of cargo, reports CNN Money.

Read more ....

More News On The U.S. Air Force's KC-46 Tanker Program

Will the KC-46 face another schedule delay? The Air Force will find out in June -- Defense News
Meet Boeing's new covert, flying gas station -- CNN
KC-46 getting FAA, electromagnetic testing -- News OK
KC-46 Pegasus undergoes testing in Benefield Anechoic Facility -- Edwards Air Force Base
USAF wish list requests 14 more F-35s, three more tankers -- Flight Global
Boeing shows off long-troubled Air Force tanker, says deadlines will be met -- Seattle Times
Boeing Confident of Meeting KC-46 Testing, Delivery Targets -- AIN Online

New U.S. Air Force Tanker Delivery Is Being Delayed Because Of Boom Problems

Boeing KC-46 tanker (left) flying alongside the older KC-135 © / AFP

Defense One: New Air Force Tanker Delayed Because It Can’t Refuel Planes

Boeing has eaten $1.3 billion trying to fix their KC-46 Pegasus aerial refueling plane. Now new aircraft, USAF decision to buy more, pushed back months.

Boeing will not meet its contractual deadline to deliver 18 KC-46 tankers to the Air Force by August 2017 due to design problems with the plane’s refueling boom.

The delay, announced on Friday afternoon before the Memorial Day holiday weekend in the United States, comes after countless warnings that there was no more margin for error in the project’s schedule due to numerous technical problems that have cropped up over the past four years.

“Technical challenges with [the] boom design and issues with certification of the centerline drogue system and wing air refueling pods have driven delays to low rate production approval and initial aircraft deliveries,” Brig. Gen. Duke Richardson, the program executive officer for tankers, said in a statement.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: On top of the delays, Boeing is hinting that the plane is going to cost more .... Delay to Boeing's KC-46 tanker raises risk of further costs (Reuters).

More News On The KC-46 Delivery Problems

Boeing's KC-46 Tanker Will Miss Major Deadline -- Defense News
Boeing air refueling tanker again falls behind schedule -- CNN
Boeing to delay delivery of KC-46 refueling jets to US Air Force -- IBTimes
KC-46A boom problem busts USAF schedule -- Flight Global
U.S. Air Force says Boeing will delay delivery of KC-46 tankers -- Reuters
Boeing to miss deadline on KC-46 tanker, no delivery till 2018 -- RT
Boeing Misses Target for KC-46 Refueling Tanker Delivery, Deadline Extended -- Sputnik
Boeing’s Tanker Troubles: Issues ‘More Complex’ Than Realized -- National Defense

Sequestration Would Be A 'Disaster' For The U.S. Air Force's Deal To Buy New Refueling Tankers

Boeing

Sequestration Threatens Tanker Deal: USAF Official -- Defense News

The U.S. Air Force might have to cancel its contract with Boeing to buy refueling tankers if Congress fails to modify a law mandating federal spending cuts before January, according to a senior service official.

The announcement that the Pentagon might have to cancel the KC-46 contract and renegotiate a multibillion-dollar deal with Boeing is one of the most direct examples of how those budget reductions, know as sequestration, would impact the military.

Read more ....

More News On The Impact Of Sequestration On The U.S. Air Force's Boeing Refueling Tanker Contract

Boeing Plows Through KC-46 Reserve Funding; Sequestration Would Be 'Near Catastrophic' -- Aol Defense
Boeing Burns Through KC-46 Reserves Faster Than Planned -- Aviation Week
Fixed-price tanker contract at risk -- DoD Buzz
Boeing KC-46 tanker programme on track, says US Air Force -- Flight Global
US Air Force says vigilant on Boeing tanker program -- Reuters
Is Boeing's KC-46 tanker program in trouble? -- Michelle Dunlop, Herald Net