{"id":26730,"date":"2018-03-20T16:33:44","date_gmt":"2018-03-20T16:33:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2018\/03\/20\/boeing-kc-46-delays-are-frustrating-air-force-secretary-heather-wilson\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T22:20:28","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T22:20:28","slug":"boeing-kc-46-delays-are-frustrating-air-force-secretary-heather-wilson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/air\/2018\/03\/20\/boeing-kc-46-delays-are-frustrating-air-force-secretary-heather-wilson\/","title":{"rendered":"Boeing KC-46 delays are frustrating Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson"},"content":{"rendered":"
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In Congressional testimony Tuesday, Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson said Boeing has been “overly optimistic” on the delivery schedule for the KC-46 tanker. (Jeff Martin\/Staff)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 The U.S. Air Force\u2019s top civilian has blasted Boeing over delays and deficiencies<\/a> plaguing the KC-46 tanker program<\/a>, accusing the company of focusing too much on its commercial business at the expense of defense projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOne of our frustrations with Boeing is they\u2019re much more focused on their commercial activity than on getting this right for the Air Force and getting these aircraft to the Air Force. And that\u2019s the message we took to them in Seattle last week,\u201d Secretary Heather Wilson said of a recent meeting between Boeing and Air Force officials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The remarks came as Wilson, Army Secretary Mark Esper and Navy Secretary Richard Spencer testified before the House Armed Services Committee about the defense budget and implementation of acquisitions reform legislation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Boeing responded after the hearing with a statement:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere is no greater priority at The Boeing Company right now than the delivery of the KC-46. Boeing has continued to demonstrate its commitment to deliver the tankers as soon as possible and believes in our partnership with the US Air Force.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee Chairman Rob Wittman, R-Va., asked during the hearing how a series of deficiencies with the KC-46, recently reported, were impacting schedule delays: \u201cBoeing is still saying they will deliver on time, the Air Force is changing the timeline; can you give us some perspective on where things are?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBoeing is saying they are going to deliver in the second quarter of 2018,\u201d but the Air Force believes it will slip, Wilson said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBoeing has been overly optimistic in all of their schedule reports,\u201d she asserted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wilson outlined unanticipated test delays Boeing faced \u2014 and the Air Force was skeptical about its schedule when it was put forward \u2014 as well as deficiencies involving the remote vision system and centerline drogue systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Air Force Under Secretary Matthew Donovan<\/a> went to Boeing headquarters for a \u201cdeep dive,\u201d Wilson said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have asked them to put their A-team on this to get these problems fixed and get this aircraft to the Air Force,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rep. Donald Norcross, D-N.J. \u2014 whose district is near to Joint Base McGuire\u2013Dix\u2013Lakehurst, where the KC-46 would be based \u2014 lamented the schedule slippage and pressed Wilson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wilson noted that the Air Force\u2019s fixed-price contract means the delays are costing time, but not money. Boeing compensated the government<\/a> over a previous schedule slip, \u201cand I anticipate that will be an issue in the coming months with Boeing, as well, for these most recent slips.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t