The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on 3 March, that the U.S. State Department has signed potential sale of up to eight Boeing KC-46A Pegasus aerial refueling aircraft to Israeli Air Force. The Government of Israel has requested to buy up to eight KC-46 aircraft; up to seventeen PW4062 turbofan engines (16 installed, 1 spare); and up to eighteen MAGR 2K-GPS SAASM receivers (16 installed, 2 spares). The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today. The State Department’s approval covers the Boeing KC-46 tankers and related equipment for an estimated cost of $2.4 billion.
Also included are AN/ARC-210 U/VHF radios, APX-119 Identification Friend or Foe transponders, initial spares and repair parts, consumables, support equipment, technical data, engineering change proposals, publications, Field Service Representatives (FSRs), repair and return, depot maintenance, training and training equipment, contractor technical and logistics personnel services, U.S. Government and contractor representative support, Group A and B installation for subsystems, flight test and certification, other related elements of logistics support and training.
The principal contractors will be Boeing Corporation, Everett, WA, for the aircraft; and Raytheon Company, Waltham, MA, for the MAGR 2K. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale. Implementation of this proposed sale will require the assignment of two U.S. field service/contractor representatives to Israel. The United States is committed to the security of Israel, and it is vital to U.S. national interests to assist Israel to develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability. This proposed sale is consistent with those objectives.
The Boeing KC-46A Pegasus is a military aerial refueling and strategic military transport aircraft developed by Boeing from its commercial 767-2C jet airliner. Boeing has delivered more than 1,150 767s worldwide. Boeing received its initial contract in 2011 to design and develop the U.S. Air Force’s newest tanker aircraft. In February 2011, the tanker was selected by the United States Air Force (USAF) as the winner in the KC-X tanker competition to replace older Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers. The first aircraft was delivered to the Air Force in January 2019. The Air Force intends to procure 179 Pegasus aircraft by 2027.
