Boeing KC-46A

By Graham Warwick
Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.
Aerospace

By Brian Everstine
Boeing on Oct. 20 resumed deliveries of its KC-46 tanker to the U.S. Air Force following an almost two-month pause due to red-tape issues.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Brian Everstine
Boeing has delivered four KC-46s so far this year, with no handovers to the U.S. Air Force since late August.
Supply Chain

By Steve Trimble
The request for information (RFI) was published on Sept. 15 by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Brian Everstine
The U.S. Air Force wants to kick off its program to replace its aging Boeing KC-135s this month with a request for information.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble
A decision will be announced by the U.S. Air Force on Aug. 16 that could decide the future shape of the strategic mobility fleet.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Brian Everstine
The existing remote vision system on the Boeing KC-46 has been plagued with quality issues, which make up two of six Category 1 deficiencies on the airplane.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Brian Everstine
The service seeks shift from one-for-one replacement of KC-135s and C-17s to a series of aircraft, from the basic to the exquisite.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Steve Trimble
The Metrea Strategic Mobility-owned tanker offloaded nearly 90,000 lb. of fuel during 13 boom contacts with an RC-135 and E-3 during Exercise Resolute Hunter.
Multi-Mission Aircraft

By Brian Everstine
The U.S. Air Force expects to resume accepting deliveries of KC-46s next month.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Brian Everstine
Boeing and Aurora Flight Sciences on June 20 announced a joint effort to develop new defensive systems and countermeasures for the KC-46 and future tankers.
Paris Air Show

By Brian Everstine
Boeing Defense and Space CEO Ted Colbert told reporters ahead of the Paris Air Show on June 18 that the second quarter will look like the earnings of the first.
Paris Air Show

By Brian Everstine
Lawmakers want to block U.S. Air Force efforts to retire Lockheed Martin C-130s and KC-135s from the Guard and Reserve.
Budget, Policy & Operations

Helen Chachaty
After a four-year hiatus, the Paris Air Show kicks off on June 19 with a renewed presence of U.S., Turkish and Chinese companies.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Brian Everstine
USAF and Boeing are seeing the costs increase for a needed boom redesign for the KC-46 tanker as well as delays for the new Remote Vision System.
Multi-Mission Aircraft

By Brian Everstine
Lockheed Martins announces it will use the GE Aerospace CF6 to power its LMXT should the Airbus A330-based aircraft be built for tanker-transport service.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Jen DiMascio, Steve Trimble, Brian Everstine, Joe Anselmo
Aviation Week editors talk with the Boeing Defense, Space and Security president about his focus on regaining stability for major development programs.
Manufacturing & Supply Chain

By Tony Osborne
The first aircraft participating in the Air Defender 2023 deployment exercise have touched down at German air bases.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Brian Everstine
Deliveries of the Boeing KC-46 tanker to the U.S. Air Force are still paused amid an ongoing problem with the aircraft’s fuel tanks.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Guy Norris
Northrop Grumman has partnered with JetZero in its bid to develop a full-scale blended-wing-body demonstrator as a tanker-transport for the U.S. Air Force.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Brian Everstine
The U.S. Air Force is planning the largest transatlantic crossing of combat aircraft since the lead-up to the 1990-1991 Gulf War this summer.
Budget, Policy & Operations

Asia-Pacific Staff
The latest weapon system lifecycle cost estimates from Japan’s Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) shows changes to Tokyo's procurement plans.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Graham Warwick
Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Michael Bruno
Boeing will record another charge on its star-crossed KC-46A tanker program for the U.S. Air Force.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Brian Everstine
Officials call for clean-sheet designs, saying commercial-derivative refuelers are not survivable.
Budget, Policy & Operations