The origins of the KC-46 can be traced back to the period after the end of the Cold War. In the 1990s, plans to replace the U.S. Air Force’s aging KC-135 fleet began to take shape.

The KC-46A is based on the Boeing 767-2C freighter and is therefore a variant of the civilian Boeing 767-200ER. The KC-46 has been lengthened by 2 m and has an increased maximum total weight of a good 188,000 kg. Other elements include the cargo floor and a side cargo hatch, a display system based on that of the 787, additional tanks and preparations for the attachment of the refueling equipment on the wing (probe and catch funnel) and under the tail (tank boom).

On September 25, 2015, the KC-46A Pegasus successfully completed its maiden flight.

Photo copyright US Air Force