Is USaf KC-46 PEGASUS Mission is fully able?

to update American Air Force

The capacity of military air fuel has focused greatly on the KC-46 PEGASUS, replacing the KC-135 Statotanker. Many PEGASUS indicates a transformative platform that can serve multiple functions. The KC-46 depends on the Boeing 767 structure and brings a set of new technology for the mission of air refueling as well as being more capable of tanks, as the multi-role transportation (MRTT) indicates.

Analysts also examine any deficiencies and mechanical concerns that affected the early registry of the plane. According to the recent evaluation of the Pentagon test, the KC-46 Pegasus carrier still has a low ability to task and availability due to lack of ingredients. There are still serious systematic problems with the program as well.

“KC-46A does not meet many of its appropriate standards,” According to the annual report 2024 From the office of the director of operational and evaluation test. It is at least 80 % operational availability and 90 % of the task ability to tankers, but actual “Decreased throughout the year 2024”, “ Note the report.

Increased pain

The KC-46 mission capacity had 61 % in 2024, which is worse than its 2023 preparedness by 65 %. The effective mission rate in the KC-46 carriers has decreased by an additional 24 % when the task is taken partially taken into account, such as those with a broken mutation.

The capacity/availability numbers are derived from more than 90,000 hours a trip from the maintenance data analyzed by the reliability assessment team and maintenance evaluation. The Air Force Test and Evaluation Center collected 15 times the required operational test data required in the first place as it continued to track the program and work to solve continuous problems.

The carrier cannot apply to the next stage of the test until it receives updates of the fuel -refueling and remote system of vision, which is subject to redesign. AFOTEC has completed the operational tests of the wing air -friendly pod and the cooperative cybersecurity of aviation electronics systems.

There are possible concerns about the warp in light of the ice conditions, but the Air Force told Dot & E that it could use the current system if necessary and follow a long -term solution. There is also a problem with weight and balance when installing Warps, specifically when refueling on both Boom and DROGUE future aircraft.

The Air Force continues to work with Boeing to develop critical upgrades to the fuel and RVS boom to support integrated tests at the end of the fiscal year 25. Problems related to prosperity and RVS are known as category 1 palaces, which may cause death or serious injury to individuals or severe damage to the arms system. KC-46 is now able to refuel 26 of 27 possible aircraft, but with some restrictions that limit the availability of some environmental conditions and aircraft configurations.

Software updates to the Self -Defense System for Radio Frequency is needed to improve survival susceptibility in the carrier, and the flight test is made for the RFSDS 6.0 this quarter. More tests will be needed to see if these updates are sufficient to protect the KC-46 in a disputed environment.

Make a feet

The Air Force worked on some of these problems, and KC-46 is now able to refuel 26 of 27 platforms designed to work with it. Unfortunately, he still faces many problems, including a fuel -terrifying system, cracks in the fuel supply line, and cracks in the additional energy unit mast.

One of the problems is the systematic failure of the bleeding air channels, which was promoted to the deficiency of the 1st category due to the number of affected aircraft and the number of repetitions. Boeing and the Air Force are currently modeling and testing temporary procedures to mitigate this issue.

“I am 100 percent confident of his ability,” he said, he said General Mike MinihhanAMC commander. “The people who fly, fix, support it, love it. The people who bother them, love it. The fighting orders … from its fans. I am happy because we closed it [interim capability release] The separation is outside. “

KC-46 completed the maximum endurance process in June 2024, and Boeing to hold 158 out of 179 KC-46S charts. As of late 2024, about 89 aircraft were delivered, where the last contract was granted in November 2024. Boeing has absorbed more than $ 7.5 billion of losses in the program.

Official recommendations from the director, operational test and evaluation Dot & e fy2024 The annual report comes at 3 points:

1. As recommended in the annual report of the 23rd year, continued to follow up the design changes needed to close the remaining palaces of category 1. “
2. “Development and implementation of a strategy to address high motivations of availability and price lack is able to task.”
3. “Additional operating test data on RFSDS during the development test for software updates and sharing them with Dot & E for use in IOT & E.”

Innovation price

The above numbers may not seem good at first glance, but KC-46 leads the charge of technological development and the first doctrine of the Fuel Fuel for the US Air Force for decades. The position of the new carrier was out of faults. However, the benefits that new aircraft bring with them are a significant increase in efficiency and the performance of the task.

To put it in the context, let’s review the levels of preparation for some other USAf platforms. Aircraft preparedness in the USAF fleet decreased to its lowest level in a decade at least and perhaps 20 years, according to the data provided to Air & Space Force.

The average mission rate for all USAF fleets was 67.15 % in 2024, a decrease from 69.92 % in the fiscal year 2023 and 71.24 % in the fiscal year 2022. These average rates represent all fleets, with the most challenging fleets also among the smallest US stock.

The Air Force has changed the measures of its mission (MC) in recent years, including the availability of the crew and maintenance crew, spare parts, and other factors. MC rates range from 30.45 for CV-22 to 100 % for C-21 and MC-12. The rates decreased to 29 species of aircraft and improving them to 26 other species, while the rest did not see any change. It was four fleets in 100 %: C-12, C-21, MC-12 and UV-18.

The five most performed platforms for non -rooted fleets were CV-22 Osprey

30 %, and F-22A Raptor

40 %, Compass EC-130H calls by 42 %, B-1B Lancer

In 43 % and Sikorsky

HH-60W Jolly Green II (Blackhawk Resue Star) 46 %.

The bottom line

A joint effort between USAF driving, Boeing, Crew, and governorate, steadily working to improve PEGASUS performance as the teething phase passes. Innovative improvements such as APU (APURSS) He came directly from the shoes on the floor, where the pilots put a system from a distance to accelerate the KC-46 launch cycle.

And kc-46 About the globe in June 2024Returning to the McConneel Air Force Base, Kansas, on the first of July. The plane and its crew recorded a 45 -hour flight without stopping around the world. The task, called Project Magellan, witnessed that the crew on their borders are testing while they were supplied on the air force around the world along the road.

“Care from [continental U.S.]Fueling on the C-17 on the Pacific and Long Combat Ocean on Iraq, and return to support Global Strike’s offers that we can really provide air fuel supply and support global access at any time and anywhere. ” Colonel Brent Tott, aircraft commander and head of the twenty -second operations group in McConnell.

At the end of the day, PEGASUS is far from DUD. It is an excellent plane that brings greater capacity than ever to one of the most important tasks of the Air Force (the armed forces). This may not be perfect yet, but the KC-46 is on its way to redefining the mission of air carrier in the most powerful air force in the world.

In numbers

Boeing’s KC-46 tankerIt was built on the 767-200 series, chosen by the US Air Force in 2011 and has been in service since 2014. The company plans to gradually get rid of Stratotototototins the elderly and some KC-10 extensions in favor of one platform by 2027.

the KC-46 Pegasus

It can move heavier goods from previous carriers, making them suitable for more multi -use tasks. Its ability and ability to work from smaller airports makes it suitable for dispersed operations.

Boeing guarantees that the new plane has a standard design, capable of frequent promotions to support continuous updates to ensure the development of new programs and devices with threats with their appearance.

• The basic function: Embroidery and air leverage

• The main contractor: the
  Boeing

  a company

• Electricity Station: 2
  Prattienie

  4062

• Payment: 62000 pounds. (A record day at the sea level) for each engine
• Wingspan: 156 feet, 1 inches (47.5 meters)
• length: 159 feet, 2 inches (48.5 meters)
• to rise: 51 feet, 9 inches (15.5 meters)
• The maximum boot weight: 415,000 pounds (188,240 kg)
• Fuel capacity: 212,299 pounds (96297 kg)
• The maximum charging capacity: 65,000 pounds (29484 kg), 58 passengers
• Pallications: 18 Palt sites
• Air crew: 15 always air seats, including the fold evacuation crew
• Aviation evacuation crew: The main staff consisting of five (two flying nurses, three medical technicians), adjustable as needed