What Delays Refueling Aircraft Supply to Israeli Airforce ?

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At least two Boeing KC-46A aerial refueling aircraft are needed immediately to the Israeli airforce (IAF). While the negotiations between Washington and Jerusalem on an increase in the next 10 year U.S military grant to Israel continue, the IAF has made it clear that the need for an advanced aerial tankers is one of its highest operational priorities.

The IAF has been briefed on the status of the KC-46A programme. The delay in the progarmme is one of the reasons why the IAF has been pushing for a decision.

Last week, Boeing and the U.S Air Force announced that the first KC-46 will be delivered in August 2017, rather than the earlier set date (March 2017). The Air Force said it now anticipates to receive all 18 aircraft by the end of January 2018. The KC-46 A will replace the IAF’s converted Boeing 707’s .

Meanwhile, Boeing has completed all necessary Milestone C testing to receive customer approval to enter production for the KC-46 tanker. According to DefenseWorld.net, the airborne tanker recently refuelled F-16, A-10 and C-17 aircraft to signal the end of Milestone C testing..

The company recognizs a $393 million after-tax charge ($0.62 per share) on the KC-46 Tanker program. This charge reflects higher costs associated with previously announced program schedule and technical challenges, including implementation of the hardware solution to resolve a refueling issue identified during flight testing, delays in the certification process and concurrency between late-stage development testing and initial production.

“This additional investment in the KC-46 supports the delivery timeline for the initial production aircraft and our transition to full-rate production,” said Boeing Chairman, President and CEO Dennis Muilenburg. The completion of all necessary Milestone C testing is a “major step forward for this multi-decade production and support program.”