KC-46 Tanker Modernization: Program Cost Is Stable, but Schedule May Be Further Delayed

Abstract

The KC-46 tanker modernization program, valued at about $44 billion, is among the Air Forces highest acquisition priorities. Aerial refuelingthe transfer of fuel from airborne tankers to combat and airlift forcesis critical to the U.S. militarys ability to effectively operate globally. The Air Force initiated the KC-46 program to replace about a third of its aging KC135 aerial refueling fleet. Boeing was awarded a fixed-price-incentive contract to develop the aircraft. Among other things, Boeing was contractually required to deliver 18 fully capable aircraft (KC-46 aircraft with 9 sets of wing aerial refueling pods that allow for simultaneous refueling of 2 aircraft) by August 2017. The program plans to eventually field 179 aircraft in total.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 2018
Accession Number
AD1168794

Entities

People

  • Michael Sullivan

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accountability
  • Acquisition
  • Air Force
  • Aircraft Equipment
  • Aircrafts
  • Airframes
  • Congress
  • Contracts
  • Cost Estimates
  • Costs
  • Department Of Defense
  • Electronic Mail
  • Governments
  • Incentive Contracts
  • Logistics
  • Maintenance
  • Procurement
  • Refueling
  • Refueling In Flight
  • Risk
  • Risk Analysis
  • Tanker Aircraft
  • Test And Evaluation
  • United States Government

Readers

  • Aerospace logistics and air mobility.
  • Government Contracting/Procurement.