News

Jun 04, 2023

Pontifications: Looking ahead to a major Defense procurement: Boeing vs Lockheed

Ok Bryce, since you only believe things you read on the Internet:

Ok Bryce, since you only believe things you read on the Internet:

https://www.defensenews.com/air/2022/07/16/us-air-force-mulls-skipping-tanker-competition-as-confidence-in-boeings-kc-46-builds/

"Kendall told reporters in a March that studies into what the Air Force will need for its future tanker led it to start reconsidering whether a competition is necessary. The requirements for this tanker "started to look like a modified KC-46, more than they do a completely new design."

"When asked whether he is confident enough in Boeing and the Pegasus to consider going with more of them, he pointed to the improvement in the KC-46′s capabilities over the last year.

"Compared to a year ago at this time … we’d say ‘We’re not using the KC-46, it's not really operational,’" Hunter said. "There's been a huge sea change in the last year, and Air Mobility Command has really cleared the way for operational use of the KC-46."

"And a year from now, Hunter predicted the Air Force will have a "very robust and operationally viable KC-46."

https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/multi-mission-aircraft/how-kc-46-flying-operationally-ioc-still-years-away

"In addition to the U.S., seven other countries have also cleared some of their aircraft to refuel with the KC-46. Earlier this year, four KC-46s deployed to Spain in an exercise that AMC designed to refine its tactics and plans for the aircraft in addition to validating the tankers abroad. In about 1 1/2 months, the tankers flew 81 missions totaling 536.3 hr., offloading 2 1/2 million lb. of fuel to 155 aircraft including Spanish F-18s, and supporting U.S. fighters that were deploying to Europe for air policing missions on NATO's eastern front.

"Allies asking for a while, hey, we’d love to certify our aircraft against your KC-46 and we finally felt that we were in a position to do that," Samuelson says of training with allies.

The Boeing E-7A is also undergoing tests with the KC-46 ahead of both clearance for allied operators to receive fuel from the tanker and before the U.S. Air Force itself plans to buy the Wedgetail. Royal Australian Air Force E-7s have flown in multiple exercises inside the U.S. this year.

"Until that visual system is upgraded, AMC does not have a plan to declare this aircraft fully operationally capable," Samuelson says. "However, does that mean you won't see the KC-46 around the world filling [aerial refueling] mission sets? No. It means you will see that, it’ll just be a measured risk."

Like the deployment to Europe earlier this year, AMC is planning similar exercises across the globe to come soon. KC-46s will deploy to the Pacific for exercise Valiant Shield starting this month, with a deployment to the Middle East to follow.

These missions are also shaping the Air Force's design for operational units. The command is increasing the number of aircrews per tail to a 2.0 ratio, which is equal to that of the KC-10 and higher than the 1.75 ratio on the KC-135, meaning there will be 24 aircrews for 12 jets in a squadron. The command expects the new KC-46 will keep a high readiness rate and operate more often.

"What that does is, like most newer aircraft, we’re hoping that the ability of the aircraft to fly its missions and maintain a higher maintenance reliability rate is there so that you can turn the aircraft and you can utilize it, it's not being down for parts or other opportunities," Samuelson says."