Japan takes delivery of first KC-46A tanker aircraft

Boeing has delivered the first of four KC-46A Pegasus aerial refuelling tanker aircraft on order for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF).

The aircraft arrived on 29 October at Miho Air Base in Tottori Prefecture, western Japan, a spokesperson at the base told Janes . The second tanker is in production and is expected to be delivered this December.

The JASDF is aiming to add two more to the four aircraft already on order.

The spokesperson also confirmed that the service's 405th Air Refuelling Squadron, which was stood up in December 2020 as the JASDF's first KC-46A unit, will operate the tanker aircraft.

Japan is the programme's first international customer. Tokyo had selected the KC-46A under its KC-X aerial refuelling competition in October 2015.

The US Air Force awarded Boeing a USD279 million contract for the JASDF's first KC-46A tanker in December 2017. The agreement made was under the US Foreign Military Sales programme.

A spokesperson at Yonago City government, where the base is located, told Janes that the third and the fourth tankers will be delivered in fiscal year (FY) 2023–24, while the remaining two will be handed over from FY 2024–25.