Improving Acquisition and Sustainment Outcomes for Military Commercial Derived Aircraft: The KC-46A Pegasus Experience

Abstract

This report documents a case study of the U.S. Air Forces (USAFs) experience developing the KC-46A Pegasus aerial refueling tanker, a military commercially derivative aircraft (MCDA) similar to the Boeing 767. The KC-46A is intended to gradually replace the USAFs aging KC-135 Stratotanker and KC-10 Extender. This report begins with a brief review of the troubled early history of the KC-46A program. It next focuses on the KC-46As experiences with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification, data rights, and organic-oriented life cycle sustainment. It concludes each section with lessons for the USAF to consider as it moves ahead with its KC-Y and other MCDA programs.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 27, 2023
Accession Number
AD1215398

Entities

People

  • Benjamin J. Sacks
  • Brittany Clayton
  • Obaid Younossi

Organizations

  • RAND Corporation

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Force Facilities
  • Aircraft Equipment
  • Aircraft Industry
  • Airframes
  • Business Administration
  • Commercial Aircraft
  • Defense Industry
  • Life Cycle Management
  • Logistics
  • Maintenance
  • Management Personnel
  • Organizational Structure
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Tanker Aircraft
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Aerospace logistics and air mobility.
  • Aviation Safety Risk Assessment.
  • Life Cycle Cost Analysis