Japan has selected the new generation Boeing KC-46A Pegasus aerial refueling aircraft to supplement its current KC-767 tanker fleet. J...
Japan has selected the new generation Boeing KC-46A Pegasus aerial refueling aircraft to supplement its current KC-767 tanker fleet.
Japan intend to procure three tankers at cost of $520 million, for which funding has been laid in the fiscal 2016 budget. The selection marks the first export order for the type.
The KC-46A, which Boeing is developing for the U.S. Air Force is an improved version of the KC-767 tanker.
Airbus, which offered its A330 MRTT, had pulled out of the tender in September, claiming the program was skewed in favor of Boeing.
The Boeing aircraft was the ideal choice for Japan as it is based on the same 767 platform, enabling existing support and maintenance equipment to used thereby reducing operating cost, and it can also refuel Japan's future fleet of 12 Bell-Boeing MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft.
Currently two KC-46A prototypes are under flight testing. The fully tanker configured EMD-2 aircraft achieved maiden flight in September.
Boeing is contracted to deliver the first 18 aircraft with all necessary support equipment to USAF by August 2017.
USAF awarded the contract for 179 tankers to Boeing in 2011, to replace its ageing fleet of KC-135 Stratotankers.
In June, KC-46A lost a South Korean bid for four tankers, which was won by the Airbus A330 MRTT for $1.33 billion.
