The US Air Force’s 99th and 100th KC-46A Pegasus aircraft were delivered to Travis Air Force Base, California on December 2, 2025—with a three-star and four-star general behind the controls.

Lt. Gen. John P. Healy, chief of the Air Force Reserve and commander of Air Force Reserve Command, flew the 99th Pegasus, while Gen. John D. Lamontagne, Air Mobility Command commander, piloted the 100th aircraft—marking a significant milestone for the Air Force’s tanker modernization program.

The Delivery Ceremony

Air Mobility Command announced the acceptance of both aircraft at a ceremony at Travis AFB, one of the primary operating locations for the KC-46A fleet. The arrival of the milestone aircraft was notable not just for the program achievement, but for having general officers at the controls.

“Today marks not just the arrival of the 100th KC-46 delivered, but the continued strengthening of our nation’s global reach and readiness,” said Lamontagne. “The Pegasus represents a key chapter in air mobility, one built on innovation and unwavering commitment to the mission. To the Airmen who will fly, fix, and support this aircraft, you carry forward a proud legacy of excellence.”

Lt. Gen. Healy emphasized the Total Force integration aspect: “The delivery of the 99th and 100th KC-46As underscores the Air Force Reserve’s ‘Ready Now’ commitment to airpower and rapid global mobility”. “Our combined Total Force ensures we can reach any spot in the world whenever and wherever our nation calls.”

What Is the KC-46A Pegasus?

The KC-46A Pegasus is based on the Boeing 767 commercial airliner and was selected by the Air Force as the winner of the KC-X tanker competition to replace the aging KC-135 Stratotanker fleet—aircraft that now average over 60 years old.

Key Specifications:

• Introduced: 2019
• Length: 165 ft 6 in (50.5 m)
• Wingspan: 157 ft 8 in (48.1 m)
• Max Takeoff Weight: ~415,000 lb (188,240 kg)
• Engines: Two Pratt & Whitney PW4062 turbofans (~62,000 lbf thrust each)
• Top Speed: ~567 mph (913 km/h)
• Range: ~6,385 nautical miles (11,825 km)
• Service Ceiling: ~43,000 ft (13,100 m)
• Fuel Offload: Up to 212,000 lbs transferable
• Cargo Capacity: Up to 65,000 lb (29,500 kg); 18 standard 463L pallets
• Passenger/Patient Capacity: Up to 114 passengers or 58 patients (aeromedical configuration)
• Crew: Typically 3 (pilot, copilot, boom operator)

The aircraft features a fly-by-wire refueling boom and can also refuel aircraft via wing-mounted hose-and-drogue pods, allowing it to support Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and partner nation receivers with different refueling systems.

Multirole Capabilities

Beyond aerial refueling, the KC-46A serves as a multirole transport aircraft. The climate-controlled interior includes a kitchen, crew bunks, and lavatory. The cargo area can be configured with airline-style seats and additional sleeping areas for larger crews. For long-endurance missions, a palletized kitchen and second lavatory can be installed.

This versatility allows the Pegasus to conduct passenger transport, cargo airlift, and aeromedical evacuation missions in addition to its primary refueling role.

Program Milestones

Development of the KC-46A began in 2011, with first delivery to McConnell Air Force Base in January 2019. The program has since achieved several operational milestones:

September 2022: AMC certified the KC-46A as worldwide deployable following its first operationally tasked mission in a combat zone, refueling F-15E Strike Eagles assigned to the 335th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron.

October 2022: A reduced-crew mission validated the tanker’s ability to launch quickly under threat scenarios.

November 2022: A KC-46A from the 157th Air Refueling Wing conducted a non-stop 36-hour, 16,000-mile missionhalfway around the globe and back—the longest such mission in AMC history.

May 2022: The Interim Capability Release process advanced operational readiness, enabling certification for 97 percent of daily joint refueling taskings.

June 2025: KC-46As supported Operation Midnight Hammer, providing aerial refueling for B-2 Spirit stealth bombers that struck Iranian nuclear facilities in CONUS-to-CONUS missions from Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri.

Strategic Importance

The KC-46A provides the aerial refueling capability that enables the Air Force’s global reach. Long-range bombers—including 45 B-1B Lancers, 19 B-2 Spirits, and 76 B-52 Stratofortresses—depend on tanker support for extended-range missions and Bomber Task Force deployments to Europe and the Indo-Pacific.

Recent examples include B-1s operating from Japan and B-52s deploying from Spain, demonstrating how aerial refueling extends American airpower globally. The B-2 strikes on Iran illustrated the capability perfectly: stealth bombers flying round-trip from Missouri to the Middle East without landing, enabled entirely by aerial refueling.

Current Fleet and Future Plans

The Air Force operates KC-46As from multiple bases, including:

• Travis AFB, California
• McConnell AFB, Kansas
• Pease Air National Guard Base, New Hampshire
• Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina
• Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey
• Altus AFB, Oklahoma

Last month, McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base near Knoxville, Tennessee was selected as the preferred location for KC-46A Main Operating Base 7, becoming the third Air National Guard base to host the Pegasus.

Boeing was recently awarded a $2.47 billion contract to produce 15 more KC-46As in Lot 12, scheduled for completion by June 30, 2029. The contract keeps the program within the 183-aircraft cap imposed by Congress.

The Air Force originally planned to acquire 179 KC-46As, with additional orders from Japan and Israel bringing total planned production to over 200 aircraft.

Replacing the KC-135 Legacy

The KC-46A program addresses a critical capability gap. The KC-135 Stratotanker fleet, which the Pegasus is replacing, averages over 60 years old—making it the oldest aircraft type in the Air Force inventory. Many KC-135s have been flying since the Eisenhower administration, and maintenance costs continue rising as the aircraft age.

The introduction of the KC-46A provides modern avionics, improved fuel offload systems, enhanced defensive features, and expanded cargo capacity to meet current and future mission demands.

Bottom Line

The delivery of the 99th and 100th KC-46A Pegasus aircraft represents more than a program milestone—it demonstrates the Air Force’s commitment to recapitalizing its aging tanker fleet with modern, multirole aircraft capable of supporting global operations. With general officers personally delivering these aircraft, the message to the force is clear: aerial refueling remains the enabler of American airpower projection worldwide, and the Pegasus fleet will carry that mission forward for decades to come.