Boeing Secures Contracts to Extend Production of โฃAH-64 Apache helicopter and โคKC-46A Pegasus Tanker
WASHINGTON – Boeing has been awarded new โขcontracts to continue production of both the AH-64E Apache attack helicopter and the KC-46A Pegasus aerial refueling tanker,bolstering the U.S. military’s capabilities and extending the lifespan of โboth โคcritical โaircraft.
The Army contract extends Apache production into the early 2030s, ensuring โฃthe continuation of a program thatโ has โdelivered over 1,280 helicopters since its introductionโ in 1984. These aircraft have accumulated โmore โthan five million flight hours, including 1.3 million inโข combat.The Apache first saw combat in Decemberโ 1989 during โฃOperation Just Cause in Panama and gained prominence during the 1991 gulfโ War. More than a dozen U.S. partners operate the AH-64, โฃwith Poland currently being the โฃsecond-largest operator after โขthe U.S. Army, possessing approximately 750. The Apache’s Modular Open Systems Architecture is designed to facilitate ongoing upgrades with new technologies, potentially keeping it in service through the 2060s.
Separately,theโค Air Force has โฃordered 15โข additional KC-46A Pegasus โtankers under โขLot 12 of the program. Growth of the KC-46A, based on the Boeingโ 767, began โinโฃ 2011 as aโ replacement for the aging KC-135 Stratotankers, with the first delivery occurring in January 2019. This newโ order โwill not exceed the 183-aircraft cap imposed by Congressional lawmakers until โฃthe Pentagon addresses design deficiencies, โspecifically with the Remote Vision System (RVS) and refueling boom.โฃ Consequently, โฃthe Air Force is required to maintain โits existing KC-135 fleet until these issues are resolved.
There is growing consideration that the Air Force may ultimately cancel the Next Generation Aerial Refueler (NGAS) program and rely solely on the KC-46 once its technical challenges are overcome. Earlier this month, McGhee Tyson Air National Guard base โin Knoxville,โฃ TN, was selected as the future Main Operating Base 7 โfor theโฃ KC-46A Pegasus.
“as the global habitat evolves, so must we,” said โคU.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Duke Pirak, acting director,โค Air National Guard. “The KC-46’s advanced capabilities, increased reliability, and enhanced โoperational reach make us better โฃable to meet this critical moment โand the demands of tomorrow. The 134th ARW is a great fit for this duty.”