Boeing KC-46A Tanker number 2 has completed its first flight. The second tanker aircraft is being added to the first one for completion of the flight testing program. The Boeing KC-46A tanker aircraft are currently being used to test mission system avionics and exterior lighting. This will be followed by the certification of the aerial refueling system, which will be the aircrafts main function when placed into service. Boeing will also conduct post flight inspections and calibrations during the test flight program. The requirements of the test program is that the KC-46 tankers can successfully refuel 18 aircraft in flight.
Boeing KC-46A Tanker Contract Battle
Boeing was awarded the government contract for the next generation tanker aircraft in 2011. This award came following a giant quagmire that began in 2002, when the US decided to lease 100 KC-767 tankers from Boeing. The initial deal was politically criticized as wasteful, so the Air Force struck a new deal in November of 2003 to purchase 80 KC-767 aircraft and lease an additional 20. The Pentagon then decided to freeze the new deal due to allegations of corruption. This lead to the Department of Defense canceling the contract in January of 2006. The Air Force then launched a new tanker competition in January of 2007. Boeing was in competition for the new contract against Europe’s EADS, which partnered with US based Northrop Grumman. The Northrop-EADS team was declared the winner of the new competition with its tanker based of of the Airbus A330 model aircraft. Boeing then filed a protest of the contract award, citing flaws in the tanker specifications and the bidding process. The Government Accountability Office upheld the Boeing protest, recommending that the contract be clarified and re-bid. The new bidding process began in September of 2009, and once again it was Boeing pitted against EADS, minus partner Northrop Grumman. Boeing then finally won the Air Force aerial refueling tanker competition in March of 2013. The tanker was specified by the US Air Force as the Boeing KC-46A. You can view a great video of the Boeing KC-46 tankers first aerial refueling mission by clicking the link below.
First Boeing tanker refueling mission
