Boeing targets F-35 users for future KC-46A sales

Boeing is targeting current and future operators of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) as it looks to secure additional customers for its KC-46A Pegasus tanker.

Boeing is looking to add to its US and Japanese customers for the KC-46A by pursuing current and future F-35 operators. (Boeing)

Speaking at the company’s St Louis facility in Missouri, Matt Carreon, director of International Sales Commercial Derivative Aircraft, said that operators of the fifth-generation fighter that may be part of an international tanking consortia, but which do not have their own national assets, would be prime candidates.

“We are having discussions with […] countries that don’t currently have [tanking] assets, especially F-35 customers that don’t now have their own dedicated national tankers. Due to the particular aerial refuelling requirements of that aircraft, we see an opportunity there,” Carreon said on 15 May.

While Carreon declined to name specific countries, F-35 countries that do not have national tanker assets comprise Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway. Of these, the Netherlands and Norway have joined the European/NATO Multinational Multi Role Tanker Transport Fleet (MMF) programme, which will operate Airbus Defence and Space (DS) A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft out of Eindhoven Air Base in the Netherlands, while Denmark has no disclosed plans to field a tanker capability. Future potential F-35 customers that fit Boeing’s bill include Finland and Switzerland.