Boeing KC 46-A Image: Boeing
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First Boeing KC-46A tank aircraft to Japan begins refueling operations
By: Rafael Ramos
On: 8/19/2021
Boeing KC 46-A
Ken Fielding, CC BY-SA 3.0,, via Wikimedia Commons
The first unit of the Boeing 767-based refueling aircraft, the KC-46A carried out its first mission. At the time, the plane received and transferred fuel to another KC-46A. The mission was made in Washington.
"Refueling with Japan's first KC-46A is an important milestone for the Air Self-Defense Force of Japan (JASDF). The KC-46A is the world's most advanced refueling aircraft and has transferred more than 42 million gallons of fuel fuel to other aircraft around the world through its boom and exhaust systems," said Jamie Burgess, KC-46 program director.
Japan's Air Self-Defense Force is the first export customer for the new US refueling aircraft. Japan is expected to receive the first out of a total of 4 this year.
“The state-of-the-art refueling makes the KC-46A a standout, but this tanker goes far beyond that,” said Boeing Japan President Will Shaffer. Japan's KC-46A is capable of refueling aircraft for the US Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps and the JASDF.
The US Air Force awarded Boeing a contract to produce the first unit of the JASDF KC-46A in December 2017. The US and Japanese governments concluded an agreement through the Foreign Military Sale process between the governments of the countries , with the second unit for Japan already in production.
Most of the tanker is assembled by Boeing on the 767 production line in Everett, Washington, with 16 percent of the fuselage structure being assembled in Japan.
Rafael Ramos
Aviation enthusiast from an early age, he had his first contacts with the area developing that good old habit of spending dozens of hours in front of the screens of Micrsoft Flight Simulator and other simulators. With a solid background in various technological areas, including engineering and chemistry, Rafael has rejoined aviation as editor and author of articles and materials on our portal, providing invaluable help to the dynamics and expansion of the website and the aeronautical community, bringing us the news and updates so indispensable for us to remain current in our area of operation.
   
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