Boeing has been awarded a $2.63 billion contract by the US Air Force (USAF) for 15 KC-46A Pegasus aerial refuelling tankers.
The contract includes funds for KC-46A aircraft, as well as product data, five wing refueling pod kits, two spare engines, initial spares and support equipment.
The contract comes as the USAF is pushing Boeing to deliver previously ordered KC-46A tankers that are years behind schedule and have a number of defects. The service plans to order 179 KC-46As by 2027 to replace its aging fleet of Boeing KC-135s.
“The Boeing Co., Seattle, Washington, has been awarded a $2.6 Billion modification to previously awarded contract for Lot 5 production KC-46 aircraft, initial spares, and support equipment,” Pentagon announced.
Boeing had previously been under contract to deliver 18 KC-46A tankers to the USAF in August 2017, but did not deliver the first aircraft until January 2019. Boeing has since delivered 19 tankers.
The KC-46A is scheduled to enter Initial Operational Test and Evaluation in the fall and the USAF is aiming to have the aircraft enter service by 2022 or 2023.
