Boeing's KC-46 program approved for production: U.S. Air Force

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

U.S. | Fri Aug 12, 2016 6:13pm EDT

Boeing's KC-46 program approved for production: U.S. Air Force

Boeing Co's KC-46A refueling plane has been approved for production, with work underway for the first two low-rate initial production lots to be awarded in the next 30 days, the U.S. Air Force said on Friday.

"The KC-46 program has made significant strides in moving the Air Force toward the modernization needed in our strategic tanker fleet," Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James said in a statement announcing the approval.

The Air Force added it would soon award Boeing contracts for the first two batches, 19 aircraft in total, with a pre-negotiated combined value of $2.8 billion.

Last month the KC-46 refueled an A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft in flight, passing the final test needed to begin initial low-rate production.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-boeing-tanker-idUSKCN10N2JZ

[KT2000]

1. May they be as great as the KC-135 ! nt

[friendly_iconoclast]

2. They'd better be, as they will be worked like rented mules just as the KC-135 was/is