UNITED24 - Make a charitable donation in support of Ukraine!

Military


KC-46 Pegasus Tanker Replacement

Primary Function Aerial refueling and airlift
Prime Contractor The Boeing Company
Unit cost estimates
(then-year dollars in millions)
Average program acquisition $288.8 [2011] $290.0 [2012]
Average procurement $229.9 [2011] $230.6 [2012]
Price/Unit Cost $188.5 million (FY 2015 flyaway cost)
First Flight December 28, 2014 (767-2C test aircraft)
September 25, 2015 (KC-46 tanker configured aircraft)
Inventory 179 aircraft on order by USAF
Wingspan156 ft 1 in
157 feet, 8 inches
47.5 meters
48.1 meters
Length 165 feet, 6 inches 50.4-50.5 meters
Height 52 feet, 10 inches 15.9-16.1 meters
EnginesTwo Pratt & Whitney PW 4062
High-Bypass engines
Thrust
(sea-level standard day)
62,000 lbf
65,000 lbf
289.13 kN thrust
Maximum Air Speed.86 Mach 650 mph
Speed: CruiseMach 0.80461 kts
Speed: Cruise530 mph853 km/h
Rate of ClimbUnknown
Service Ceiling 43,000 ft 13,000 m
Range 6,385 nm/7,350 miles11,825 km
Weight (Empty) 181,600 lbs82,375 kilograms
Maximum Takeoff Weight415,000 lbs 188,240-188,250 kilograms
Maximum Landing Weight310,000 lbs 140,614 kilograms
Fuel Capacity212,299-212,300 lbs 96,265-96,297 kilograms
Fuel Offload Rate
Refueling Boom 1,200 gallons per minute (4,500 liters/minute);
Wing Air Refueling Pods (WARP)400 gallons per minute1,500 liters/minute
Centerline Drogue System (CDS) 400 gallons per minute1,500 liters/minute
Maximum Transfer Fuel Load 207,672 pounds 94,198-94,200 kilograms
Maximum Cargo Capacity 65,000 pounds 29,484-29,485 kilograms
Pallet Positions 18 463L standard pallets
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
Avionics/Sensors/Countermeasures
  • Raytheon AN/ALR-69A(V) Radar Warning Receiver (RWR)
  • Northrop Grumman AN/AAQ-24(V) Directional Infrared Countermeasure (DIRCM)
  • Key performance parameter Description
    Tanker Air Refueling Capability Aircraft shall be capable of accomplishing air refueling of all Department of Defense current and programmed (budgeted) receiver aircraft. The aircraft shall be capable of conducting both boom and drogue air refueling on the same mission.
    Fuel Offload versus Radius Aircraft shall be capable of carrying certain amounts of fuel (to use in air refueling) certain distances.
    Operate in Civil and Military Airspace Aircraft shall be capable of worldwide flight operations in all civil and military airspace.
    Airlift Capability Aircraft shall be capable of transporting certain amounts of both equipment and personnel.
    Receiver Air Refueling Capability Aircraft shall be capable of receiving air refueling from any compatible tanker aircraft.
    Force Protection Aircraft shall be able to operate in chemical and biological environments.
    Net-Ready Aircraft must be able to have effective information exchanges with many other Department of Defense systems to fully support execution of all necessary missions and activities.
    Survivability Aircraft shall be capable of operating in hostile threat environments.
    Simultaneous Multi-Point Refueling Aircraft shall be capable of conducting drogue refueling on multiple aircraft on the same mission.



    NEWSLETTER
    Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list