Pegasus Capability Improvements
Abstract
The KC-46A will provide the capability to fuel 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-46A will 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-46A will have communication, navigation, and surveillance equipment for worldwide operations; the capability to perform missions in chemical and biological environments; the ability to operate in up to medium threat environments with self-defense/protection (both active and passive) capabilities; and the necessary battlespace awareness to mitigate survivability threats. The dynamics and mission urgency of the post-production (post-DD-250) environment require the program to maintain a flexible and responsive posture to support a broad range of mission support needs. The KC-46A will continue to identify, design, develop, integrate, verify, certify, produce, install, field, and sustain a comprehensive range of non-recurring and recurring post-production, air vehicle enhancements and field support needs. These needs may originate from programmed Mobility Air Forces (MAF) requirements, Combatant Commander Joint or Urgent Operational Needs (JUON/UON), non-programmed Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) directives, requirements identified and supported by HHQ Enterprise Capability Collaboration Teams (i.e., High Value Airborne Asset [HVAA], Air Superiority 2030, and Multi-Domain Command and Control [MDC2]), or correction of field deficiencies. The KC-46A will continue to develop, field, and sustain warfighter capabilities to meet evolving threats and mission support requirements through Block or discrete modification or modernization programs depending on mission urgency, available funding, and programmatic and technical risks. Post-production requirements can include but will not be limited to avionics and structural systems/ architecture and subsystem updates, general mission equipment updates and procurement, general sustainment support, studies and analyses, future Tanker requirements simulation and training, and correction of field deficiencies. Mobility Air Forces (MAF) Connectivity is a requirement for Line-of-Sight (LOS) and Beyond-Line-of-Sight (BLOS) connectivity capability on the KC-46A. This will enable maximum MAF connectivity and real-time secure command and control for aircrew situational awareness. Project 651120 funding will also support Program Support Costs (PSC) activities, test support, mission planning capability development and various studies and analyses. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such programs funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605827F, 0605828F, 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605832F, 0605833F, 0605898F, and 0606398F. In FY 2023 $1.292 million was expended for civilian pay expenses in this program element, and in FY 2024 $3.268 million is forecast for civilian pay expenses in this program element.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Project
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2025
- Source ID
- 651120_0401221F_5_3600_PB_2025
Related Documents
- Root: KC-46A Tanker Squadrons
- Child Accomplishment: KC-46A Block 1 Pegasus Advanced Communications Suite (PACS)
- Child Accomplishment: Mobility Air Forces (MAF) Connectivity
- Child Accomplishment: Support
- Child Cost Item: 80a2fa91b1f935a2768bfbb4c96f8e9b
- Child Cost Item: 1087e08802ed1cbe696e595d8e26785b
- Child Cost Item: e613e2a2ad26cac23af13f4d66e2694a
- Child Cost Item: 0b2d3edbb1ef2dac53c6853bdd4e6a7a
- Child Cost Item: 7086ddfa0b5472381eba001b3104042e