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The Air Power introduced seven potential touchdown spots on Oct. 3 for its latest refueling tanker’s fundamental hub, and the service hopes to finalize a house base for the KC-46A Pegasus by 2027.
“One base will likely be chosen to host the brand new mission pending a ultimate basing choice, and the end result of a deliberate environmental impression evaluation anticipated no later than 2027,” the Air Power stated. “The primary of eight plane are scheduled to reach in 2031.”
The potential areas embrace: Bangor Air Nationwide Guard Base, Maine; Forbes Discipline Air Nationwide Guard Base, Kansas; Key Discipline Air Nationwide Guard Base, Mississippi; McGhee Tyson Air Nationwide Guard Base, Tennessee; Rickenbacker Air Nationwide Guard Base, Ohio; Scott Air Power Base, Illinois; or Sumpter Smith Air Nationwide Guard Base, Alabama.
The Air Power plans to purchase 179 KC-46A tankers in a $4.9 billion contract with Boeing, however the rollout has been bumpy. The primary airplane was delivered to McConnell Air Power Base, Kansas, in 2019, two years after it was initially slated to reach. And the tanker has confronted different points as properly, together with a stiff gasoline pipe that was unable to hook up with and refuel A-10 Warthogs as not too long ago as March.
Wherever the KC-46As find yourself, they’re set to interchange the getting older KC-135 Stratotankers, that are scheduled to start retiring in 2027.
Amongst their capacities, the tanker offers “growth and drogue refueling on the identical sortie, worldwide navigation and communication, cargo capability on the whole fundamental deck flooring, receiver air refueling, improved power safety, and multi-point air refueling functionality,” in response to the Air Power.
Riley Ceder is an editorial fellow at Army Instances, the place he covers breaking information, felony justice and human curiosity tales. He beforehand labored as an investigative practicum pupil at The Washington Put up, the place he contributed to the continuing Abused by the Badge investigation.
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