{"id":38749,"date":"2022-11-14T20:57:15","date_gmt":"2022-11-14T20:57:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2022\/11\/14\/kc-46-tankers-boom-issue-will-prevent-a-10-refueling-for-years\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T21:11:48","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T21:11:48","slug":"kc-46-tankers-boom-issue-will-prevent-a-10-refueling-for-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/news\/your-air-force\/2022\/11\/14\/kc-46-tankers-boom-issue-will-prevent-a-10-refueling-for-years\/","title":{"rendered":"KC-46 tanker\u2019s boom issue will prevent A-10 refueling for years"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Supply chain problems have delayed an effort to redesign the KC-46 tanker\u2019s refueling boom, keeping the plane years away from being able to gas up the entire Air Force inventory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Engineers are redesigning the fuel pipe to be more flexible so it can properly connect to the A-10C Thunderbolt II attack plane, the last military aircraft that remains off-limits to the Pegasus. The Air Force discovered the issue over four years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cPilots of receiver aircraft reported that the boom is too stiff during the part of the process when the receiver plane moves forward into the fuel transfer zone,\u201d Defense News reported in 2018.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/air\/2022\/09\/19\/air-force-says-kc-46-can-refuel-planes-around-the-world-except-one\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1000w_q75.jpg_d71e69.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Air Force says KC-46 can refuel planes around the world \u2014 except one<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">\u201cI have 100% confidence in [the Pegasus\u2019] ability,\u201d AMC head Gen. Mike Minihan said.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Boeing received a contract worth up to $55.5 million to redesign the boom in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But the effort to fix it has slowed. Moog, a subcontractor to KC-46 builder Boeing, is having trouble finding an actuator \u2014 the component that puts a machine into motion \u2014 that complies with military regulations, the Air Force said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The service believes it will take at least three years for Boeing to start installing new hardware that resolves the \u201cstiff boom\u201d problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe program is working to get a compliant actuator \u2026 for testing and will publish a new [boom redesign project] schedule as quickly as possible,\u201d Air Mobility Command spokesperson Capt. Natasha Mosquera recently told Air Force Times.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/news\/your-air-force\/2022\/11\/03\/kc-46-tankers-boom-breaks-dents-plane-while-refueling-fighter-jet\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/kc46.jpg_67880a.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">KC-46 tanker\u2019s boom breaks, dents plane while refueling fighter jet<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">The Air Force believes it will cost at least $2.5 million to repair the KC-46.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Officials hope to wrap up flight tests in late 2023 and begin replacing parts fleet-wide in late 2025. But the service is also looking for ways to speed up that schedule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Air Force is already trying to make up for lost time amid myriad design woes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In September, the military approved the KC-46 to fly daily missions around the world, including in combat zones. That decision accounted for several outstanding problems that the boom redesign aims to fix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Air Mobility Command boss Gen. Mike Minihan said he remains confident in the tanker\u2019s abilities and the workarounds in place to keep airmen and jets safe. Taking the Pegasus off the bench helps meet the military\u2019s constant demand for fuel and allows the service to continue retiring older KC-135 Stratotankers and KC-10 Extenders.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/news\/your-air-force\/2022\/10\/31\/kc-46-tanker-test-puts-fuel-boom-operator-not-copilot-in-cockpit\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1000w_q75.jpg_ba9edb.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">KC-46 tanker test puts fuel boom operator, not copilot, in cockpit<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">The idea has raised eyebrows among military watchers who question its motives and safety.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For now, though, the A-10 will keep gassing up at older tankers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe A-10 \u2026 remains too thrust-limited to overcome the stiff boom issue,\u201d Mosquera said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even as a solution is in the works, the A-10\u2032s future remains murky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Congress has repeatedly rejected the Air Force\u2019s requests to retire its gun-toting \u201cWarthog\u201d attack planes, a mainstay of America\u2019s wars in recent decades. The service argues that the 1970s-era aircraft would likely be too vulnerable and obsolete in future conflicts with advanced surface-to-air missiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Air Force has again asked to scrap 21 of its 260 A-10s in fiscal 2023. Lawmakers have yet to pass the annual defense spending and policy bills that would decide the outcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If the actuator project goes according to plan, a new boom could be ready for installation around the same time as an improved version of the tanker\u2019s remote vision system. The RVS is a network of cameras, sensors and screens that lets airmen see the aircraft they need to refuel.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/industry\/2022\/10\/26\/boeing-reports-33-billion-loss-as-defense-programs-drag\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP22125665872538.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Boeing reports $3.3 billion loss as KC-46, other defense programs drag<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">Boeing&#039;s defense sector results have pulled the company deeply into the red so far in 2022.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Boeing is working to resolve the software glitches and fuzzy displays that obscure a boom operator\u2019s view. Air Force officials hope the new system will be available around October 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cRVS 2.0 is experiencing delays due to subcontractor development timelines and airworthiness certification,\u201d Mosquera said. \u201cThere is currently no delay due to any specific technical issues.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another major design deficiency, which caused the KC-46 boom to disconnect as a receiving aircraft slowed down, was corrected last year, she added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Boeing must cover the cost of nearly $7 billion in multiple needed design repairs that have accumulated so far, about $2 billion more than the Air Force paid for the planes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The service plans to buy at least 179 KC-46 airframes for $4.9 billion and has received 62 so far. Japan and Israel will receive four apiece as well.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Air Force believes it will take at least three years for Boeing to start installing new hardware that resolves the \u201cstiff boom\u201d problem.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":71523,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":67,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":{"2":{"categories":["your-military","news","home","left-column"],"primary_category":"your-military"}}},"categories":[101,24,88,16,26,67],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3392],"class_list":["post-38749","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-news-roundup","category-home","category-left-column","category-news","category-newsletters","category-your-air-force"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"NFGUON5YB5BFRPYXVAYI2IEGYU","arc_canonical_url":"\/news\/your-air-force\/2022\/11\/14\/kc-46-tankers-boom-issue-will-prevent-a-10-refueling-for-years\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>KC-46 tanker\u2019s boom issue will prevent A-10 refueling for years - Air Force TImes<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The Air Force believes it will take at least three years for Boeing to start installing new hardware that resolves the \u201cstiff boom\u201d problem.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"KC-46 tanker\u2019s boom issue will prevent A-10 refueling for years\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Air Force believes it will take at least three years for Boeing to start installing new hardware that resolves the \u201cstiff boom\u201d problem.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/news\/your-air-force\/2022\/11\/14\/kc-46-tankers-boom-issue-will-prevent-a-10-refueling-for-years\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Air Force TImes\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2022-11-14T20:57:15+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-08-07T21:11:48+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Rachel S. 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