Seymour Johnson AFB receive first KC-46A Pegasus multirole tanker

U.S. aerospace giant Boeing has announced that it delivered its 34th KC-46 Pegasus multirole tanker to the U.S. Air Force, the first to be stationed at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina.

North Carolina U.S. Senator Thom Tillis wrote on Twitter that he is proud to see Seymour Johnson AFB receive its first Boeing KC-46 Tanker.

“With today’s delivery, the 916th Air Refueling Wing has opened its doors to the next generation of air refueling,” he said on Twitter.

- ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW -

The 916th Air Refueling wing was selected by the Air Force as the first Air Force Reserve Command to receive the KC-46 tanker. Seymour Johnson AFB also marks the fourth military base to stand up tanker operations.

“Seymour Johnson is a base with a strong history in aerial refueling,” said tanker vice president and program manager Jamie Burgess. “We know the Pegasus will be in good hands with the 916th Air Refueling Wing.”

Boeing field representatives have been working with wing leadership the past several months to prepare the base for delivery of the KC-46, standing up the warehouse, stocking shelves with spare parts, staging ground support equipment and training local airmen.

“There’s a lot we have to do to prepare a base for delivery of their first KC-46,” said Andy Garcia, KC-46 Services leader. “Our team has been moving a million miles per hour to ensure our customer will be ready to operate the airplane on day one.”

The KC-46A Pegasus is a widebody, multirole tanker that can refuel all U.S., allied and coalition military aircraft compatible with international aerial refueling procedures. Boeing designed the KC-46 to carry passengers, cargo and patients. The aircraft can detect, avoid, defeat and survive threats enabling it to operate safely in medium-threat environments.

Boeing began developing the KC-46A for the Air Force in 2011 and delivered the first tanker in January 2019. Boeing has now delivered 34 tankers — 21 to McConnell Air Force Base, seven to Pease Air National Guard Base, five to Altus Air Force Base and one to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base.

Photo by Staff Sgt. Mary McKnight
Photo by Staff Sgt. Mary McKnight
Photo by Staff Sgt. Mary McKnight

If you would like to show your support for what we are doing, here's where to do it.

If you wish to report grammatical or factual errors within our news articles, you can let us know by using the online feedback form.

Executive Editor

About author:

Dylan Malyasov
Dylan Malyasov
Dylan Malyasov is the editor-in-chief of Defence Blog. He is a journalist, an accredited defense advisor, and a consultant. His background as a defense advisor and consultant adds a unique perspective to his journalistic endeavors, ensuring that his reporting is well-informed and authoritative. read more

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

TRENDING NOW

F-16s prove effective in Ukraine’s air defense, expert says

Renowned Ukrainian military expert and head of the “Come Back Alive” Foundation, Taras Chmut, has stated that F-16 fighter jets have been performing effectively...