Israel relied on its existing refueling fleet of aging converted Boeing 707 tankers and Lockheed Martin KC-130 Hercules during its 12-day air campaign against Iran in June.
Aerial refuellers are critical for the Israeli Air Force’s (IAF’s) ability to strike Iran. Tehran lies roughly 1,000 miles from Israel, meaning that an IAF fighter jet tasked with striking a target in that city would need to fly 2,000 miles to achieve its objective and return—far beyond the combat radius of most fighter aircraft. This could explain why the Israeli Ministry of Defense (MoD) recently announced that it would acquire two additional Boeing KC-46 Pegasus air-to-air refueling aircraft—in addition to the four that are already on order.
“This is a follow-on contract with the US government for procuring two advanced refuelling aircraft in addition to four previously purchased KC-46 aircraft,” the Israel MoD said in a statement. “This will expand the [Israel Defence Force’s] new refuelling fleet to six aircraft. The new aircraft will be equipped with Israeli systems and adapted to the IAF’s operational requirements.”
The deal for the two additional KC-46s is valued at $500 million and will be funded through existing US aid to Israel. It still has yet to be approved by the country’s Defense Procurement Ministerial Committee.
The acquisition follows a 2020 deal in which the US State Department agreed to sell up to eight KC-46s to Israel, while Boeing received a $930 million contract in August 2022 for the first four aircraft, which will be delivered before the end of 2026.
“The fifth and sixth refueling aircraft will strengthen the IAF—the IDF’s [Israel Defense Forces] long-range strategic arm—enabling it to reach distant theaters with greater force and scope,” the ministry’s director general, Maj. Gen. Amir Baram also said in the statement.
The IAF Relied on Air Refueling During Its Campaign Against Iran
The IAF relied on its existing refueling fleet of aging converted Boeing 707 tankers and Lockheed Martin KC-130 Hercules during its 12-day air campaign against Iran in June. Multiple nuclear sites and military infrastructure in the Islamic Republic were targeted by IAF aircraft. The IAF has not disclosed how many of the 707 tankers, designated “Re’em,” are in service. However, according to international military analyst firm Janes, citing open-source satellite imagery of Nevatim Air Base from December, five remain in operation. The oldest tankers are more than 50 years old and are approaching the end of their service lives.
There are reports that the US Air Force supported the IAF’s “Operation Rising Lion” sorties against Iran by deploying dozens of refueling aircraft to the Middle East, but Washington has denied direct involvement in the incident.
However, the United States annually provides billions of dollars to Israel, which in turn uses the money to purchase American-made military equipment and hardware, including combat aircraft. Washington’s generous aid to Israel is a source of domestic controversy in the United States, and has seen opposition both from the liberal wing of the Democratic Party and from elements of President Donald Trump’s “MAGA” movement.
The KC-46’s Specifications
- Year Introduced: 2019
- Number Built: 98 to date
- Length: 165 feet 6 in (50.5 m)
- Height: 52 feet 10 in (15.9 m)
- Wingspan: 157 feet 8 in (48.1 m)
- Maximum takeoff weight: 415,000 lb (188,240 kg)
- Engines: Two Pratt & Whitney PW4062 turbofan engines
- Top Speed: 570 mph (914 kph, 500 knots)
- Range: 7,350 mi (11,830 km, 6,385 nmi)
- Service Ceiling: 40,100 ft (12,200 m)
- Aircrew: Three (3) for refueling missions
About the KC-46
The main operator of KC-46 Pegasus is the United States Air Force, which has nearly 100 in service. The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) also operates four Pegasus refuelers and will receive two more in the coming years.
In early 2011, the KC-46 was selected by the US Air Force as the winner of its KC-X tanker competition, with Boeing awarded a contract to replace the aging KC-135s. The first Pegasus was delivered to the air service in January 2019. Last November, Boeing was also awarded a Lot 11 contract, valued at $2.38 billion, to build an additional 15 of the multi-mission and airlift aircraft for the US Air Force.
The KC-46A can refuel most fixed-wing, receiver-capable aircraft. It can also accommodate a mixed load of passengers, aeromedical evacuation, and cargo capabilities. To date, the Pegasus has accumulated more than 100,000 flight hours while it has offloaded more than 200 million pounds of fuel.
However, the aircraft has not been without controversy, and deliveries were halted in February after the service discovered cracks in the “outboard fixed trailing-edge support structure.” The issue had been first discovered as early as 2018, but was only addressed this year. Boeing announced in May that it had identified the root cause of the problems and had begun the process to resume deliveries.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
