WASHINGTON — The primary two KC-46 Pegasus plane arrived at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey on Tuesday, making it the U.S. army’s first joint base to function the brand new tanker.
The aircrafts’ supply additionally marked the forty ninth and fiftieth KC-46 to be delivered to the Air Pressure, Boeing spokesman Jerry Drelling mentioned in an e mail.
McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst is predicted to obtain 15 extra KC-46s in fiscal 2022, and one other 9 in fiscal 2023, the Air Pressure mentioned in its launch.
The 305th and 514th Air Mobility Wings at McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst will function and preserve the tankers, the bottom mentioned in a launch, and the 87th Air Base Wing will even present set up assist. The 514th is a Reserve wing.
“We’re extraordinarily excited to welcome the KC-46 to the joint base, the place it’ll add to an already wealthy heritage of delivering hope and answering the decision,” 305th commander Col. Scott Wiederholt mentioned at a ceremony for the tankers’ arrival. “The Pegasus will get the job carried out.”
The Air Pressure has been steadily increasing the Pegasus’ capabilities this yr. Final month, the service introduced it had authorized the KC-46 to make use of its growth to refuel fourth-generation F-15 Eagle and F-16 Preventing Falcon fighter jets throughout missions for U.S. Transportation Command.
That approval permits the Pegasus to assist 62% of plane that want air refueling assist from TRANSCOM, and permits the KC-46 to tackle extra missions that in any other case would have been dealt with by the older KC-135 Stratotanker and KC-10 Extender.
In August, the Air Pressure authorized the Pegasus to refuel the B-52 Stratofortress, C-17 Globemaster and different KC-46s with its growth. And in July, the plane’s first interim functionality launch resolution gave it approval to refuel plane with its centerline drogue system. Extra functionality expansions are anticipated sooner or later.
The KC-46 can also be stationed at Altus Air Pressure Base in Oklahoma, McConnell Air Pressure Base in Kansas, Seymour Johnson Air Pressure Base in North Carolina and Pease Air Nationwide Guard Base in New Hampshire.
Stephen Losey is the air warfare reporter at Protection Information. He beforehand reported for Army.com, overlaying the Pentagon, particular operations and air warfare. Earlier than that, he coated U.S. Air Pressure management, personnel and operations for Air Pressure Instances.