KC-46A Pegasus aircraft. Photo, Louis Briscese/US Air Force.
The US Air Force has selected seven bases as candidate locations for the KC-46A Pegasus aircraft, with the final decision set for 2027.
The main operational site will be chosen from Bangor Air National Guard Base in Maine, Forbes Field Air National Guard Base (Topeka) in Kansas, Key Field Air National Guard Base (Meridian) in Mississippi, and McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base (Knoxville) in Tennessee.
Also included in the list are Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Ohio, Scott Air Force Base in Illinois, and the Sumpter Smith Air National Guard Base (Birmingham) in Alabama.
Dual-Role Aircraft.
Boeing developed the KC-46A Pegasus in 2011 as an aerial refueling and strategic military transport aircraft, which the US procured to replace its aging KC-135 Stratotankers.
Each aircraft has a fuel capacity of 212,299 pounds (96,297 kilograms) and measures 159 feet (48.5 meters) long and 51 feet (15.5 meters) high.
The Pegasus has a total crew capacity of 15, a maximum cargo capacity of 65,000 pounds (29,484 kilograms), and can accommodate up to 58 passengers.
The US Air Force is expecting 179 tankers by 2027 and received its first Pegasus in January 2019.
However, in July 2024, “category one” deficiencies were identified in the delivered aircraft, where vibrations from its fuel pump were damaging its bleed air ducts.
