KC-46

Abstract

Replacement of the legacy KC-135 fleet will take place in three stages, known as the KC-X (now the KC-46), KC-Y, and the KC-Z. The initial KC-46 increment will replace roughly a third of the current capability with the purchase of 179 aircraft. The Air Force completed an Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) in Apr 2006 to determine the most appropriate strategy to recapitalize the aging fleet of KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft. Based on this analysis, the Air Force concluded that a strategy of full and open competition to select a commercial derivative replacement tanker aircraft would result in a best value tanker contract. To initiate the first phase of the KC-135 replacement, the KC-46 program released a final Request for Proposal (RFP) on 24 Feb 2010, and entered source selection on 9 Jul 2010. The KC-46 program held a Milestone B Defense Acquisition Board (DAB) on 23 Feb 2011, received approval to enter Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) from OSD AT&L on 24 Feb 2011, and awarded the KC-46 EMD contract to Boeing on 24 Feb 2011 to develop and procure 179 KC-46 aircraft. The KC-46 will provide fuel to joint and coalition receivers via a boom or drogue system on every mission and will also augment the airlift fleet with cargo, passenger and aeromedical evacuation capabilities. The KC-46 will be able to operate in day/night and adverse weather conditions to enable deployment, employment, sustainment and redeployment of U.S. joint, allied, and coalition forces. The KC-46 will have communication, navigation and surveillance equipment for world-wide operations; will have the capability to perform missions in chemical and biological environments; will have the capability to operate in low-to-medium threat areas and near-high threat areas with self-defense/protection (both active and passive) capabilities; and will have necessary battle space awareness to mitigate survivability threats. The KC-46 development effort will also procure the necessary ground and flight test assets to support development/operational test. The program plans to procure four RDT&E aircraft for integration and demonstration of capability that will ultimately be operationally fielded after a successful operational test phase. In addition, aircrew and maintenance training systems will be developed and procured using KC-46 funding. The Aircrew Training System (ATS) entered source selection on 31 May 2012. The Maintenance Training System (MTS) is scheduled to enter source selection in FY2014. A business case analysis will also be conducted to determine if the engines for the production aircraft will be government furnished or contractor furnished. Initial training and sustainment efforts will be provided via Interim Contractor Support (ICS). KC-46 funding will also support various studies and analyses including the five-nation Future Technology for Aerial Refueling (FTAR) project, and KC-Y/KC-Z planning activities. This program is in Budget Activity 05, System Development and Demonstration (SDD) because it has passed Milestone B approval and is conducting engineering and manufacturing development tasks aimed at meeting validated requirements prior to full-rate production.

Document Details

• Document Type: R2 Budgetary Justification
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2014
• Source ID: 0605221F_5_3600_PB_2014
• Change Summary Explanation: FY2012: (-$57.137) adjusted for Small Business Innovation Research (-$47.865), Program Element 0605807F (-$10.000) in compliance with Public Law 112-74 Section 8074, and other higher priority Air Force requirements (-$0.272) FY2014 Base: (-$17.473) RDT&E, AF adjusted to reflect rephasing of RDT&E funding requirements
• Service Agency Name: Air Force

Entities

Organizations

• United States Air Force

Tags

Communities of Interest

• Air Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Acquisition
• Air Force
• Aircrafts
• Commerce
• Contractors
• Contracts
• Costs
• Deployment
• Engineering
• Governments
• Maintenance
• Procurement
• Refueling
• Refueling In Flight
• Tanker Aircraft
• Test And Evaluation
• Training

Readers

• Aerospace logistics and air mobility.
• Civilian Systems Systems Program Capability Development and Upgrade Support Activity Expense and Pay Management.

Technology Areas

• Space