American military aerial refueling and strategic transport aircraft, developed from a commercial jet airliner in the early 21st century, utilized for global air mobility and tanker operations. Key figures: top speed 914 km/h, range 11,830 km, service ceiling 12,200 m, max takeoff weight 188,240 kg, unit price $287M, built 108. In service with 3 air forces as of 2026 — United States (100), Japan (6), Israel (2).
| Crew | 3 (2 pilots, boom operator) |
| Length | 50.5 m (165.7 ft) |
| Wingspan | 48.1 m (157.8 ft) |
| Height | 15.9 m (52.2 ft) |
| Empty weight | 82,377 kg (181,610 lbs) |
| Max. takeoff weight | 188,240 kg (414,998 lbs) |
| Powerplant | 2 × Pratt & Whitney PW4062 280 kN each |
| Maximum speed | 914 km/h (568 mph) |
| Operational range | 11,830 km (7,351 mi) |
| Service ceiling | 12,200 m (40,026 ft) |
Israel
Israel takes delivery of its first KC-46A Pegasus, locally named Gideon.
Delivered
United States
New KC-46A delivered to McConnell AFB; 25th Pegasus for the 22nd Air Refueling Wing.
Delivered
United States
KC-46A Pegasus destroyed at Prince Sultan AB during Iranian missile/drone strike; confirmed by satellite imagery.
Destroyed
The Boeing KC-46 Pegasus is an American military aerial refueling and strategic transport aircraft manufactured by Boeing for the United States Air Force and foreign operators. Developed from the Boeing 767 airliner, the aircraft entered service in January 2019. It was selected to replace older Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers following the USAF KC-X competition.
The KC-46 program originated under the United States Air Force KC-X competition launched in 2006 to replace aging KC-135 tankers. Boeing was awarded the development contract in February 2011 for a design designated KC-46A. The baseline 767-2C airframe made its first flight on 28 December 2014, followed by the first F-16 aerial refueling test in January 2016. The program achieved Milestone C approval in August 2016, and the USAF accepted its first delivery on 10 January 2019. As of April 2026, the USAF has received 105 aircraft out of 263 planned, alongside deliveries to foreign air forces.
The KC-46 features a widebody cantilever monoplane airframe combining a 767-200ER fuselage, 767-300F wing and landing gear, and 767-400ER flaps. Propulsion is provided by two Pratt & Whitney PW4062 turbofans, each producing 62,000 lbf of thrust. The glass cockpit incorporates four Rockwell Collins LCD displays derived from the 787, alongside a Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System that uses dual-redundant angle-of-attack sensors. Refueling equipment includes a fly-by-wire rear boom, centerline drogue, and wing aerial refueling pods, monitored via a Remote Vision System with multispectral cameras.
The USAF cleared the KC-46 for limited operational use in early 2021 and for general operational service in September 2022. Operational bases include McConnell AFB, Altus AFB, Seymour Johnson AFB, and Pease ANGB. In June 2024, a KC-46 performed a 45-hour non-stop global flight under Project Magellan. During Operation Epic Fury in February 2026, USAF KC-46s deployed to Israel to provide aerial refueling during combat operations against Iran. Export customers include the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, which took delivery of its first aircraft in November 2021, and the Israeli Air Force, which received its first unit in May 2026.
767-2C: Commercial provision freighter baseline airframe used for initial developmental flight testing prior to military systems integration.
KC-46A: Main production military aerial refueling and strategic transport variant operated by the United States Air Force, Japan Air Self-Defense Force, and Israeli Air Force.
The US State Department cleared a $4.5 billion sale of up to four KC-46A tankers to Qatar on August 20; GlobalMilitary.net data show why the buy matters: of 111 air forces flying combat aircraft, 81 have no tanker at all, and the United States operates 561 of the world's 740.
