You are here: Home / / Boeing Starting Production of KC-46 Tanker Refueling Boom

Boeing Starting Production of KC-46 Tanker Refueling Boom

By on Wednesday, October 17th, 2012

Boeing this week begins assembling the first refueling boom for the U.S. Air Force’s next-generation aerial refueling tanker aircraft in the KC-46 Boom Assembly Center that opened Teusday at Boeing Field in Seattle.

“We’re pleased that this facility opened on schedule,” said Maureen Dougherty, KC-46 vice president and program manager for Boeing. “The KC-46A will feature a modernized fly-by-wire boom based on the proven system on the U.S. Air Force’s KC-10 tanker, which will give it advanced refueling capabilities, allowing it to refuel any fixed-wing receiver aircraft anytime and on any mission.”

Boom assembly marks the program’s shift to production from design activities.

“It’s a big day for the KC-46 Tanker Program and the U.S. Air Force,” said Maj. Gen. John Thompson, U.S. Air Force Tanker Program Executive Officer and KC-46 Program Director. “Boeing continues to make good progress toward delivering the KC-46 Tanker on schedule.”

The first boom will enter testing during the third quarter of 2013 at a System Integration Lab (SIL), known as SIL 0. It is one of five labs designed to reduce risk for avionics and aerial refueling integration. Boeing invented the air refueling boom and has been building, upgrading and modifying them for more than 60 years.

Boeing’s KC-46 program remains on track to deliver 18 combat-ready tankers by 2017, and for the next major Air Force contract milestone, the Critical Design Review, scheduled for the summer of 2013.

Production of the KC-46 aircraft begins next summer in Boeing’s Everett, Wash., factory. The aircraft will be a 767-2C variant of the commercial 767-200ER airplane. Boeing will build 179 next-generation aerial refueling tanker aircraft to begin replacing the Air Force’s aging KC-135 tankers.

Related Topic Tags

Related Defense, Military & Aerospace Forum Discussions

High quality medications buy prozac fluoxetine cheapest meds buy orlistat 120mg up to 75% discount buy avanafil 100 mg.
 
Former UK aircraft carrier towed to Turkey for scrap http://t.co/g1lVyZtz9Y #military #defense5 hours ago