Major Milestones Completed On Schedule As Program Prepares For
Preliminary Design Review
February 24th marked the first anniversary of the Boeing KC-46
Tanker program receiving a U.S. Air Force contract to build the
next-generation aerial refueling tanker, the KC-46A. Over the past
year, the program has completed key milestones in support of the
design and development phase on or ahead of schedule, and is now
preparing for a Preliminary Design Review (PDR) in March.
"The KC-46 program is on a good path. Boeing's performance thus
far has been solid," said Maj. Gen. Chris Bogdan, KC-46 Program
Executive Officer, U.S. Air Force. "Our commitment is to deliver
the KC-46A to the nation's warfighters, on schedule and ready to go
to war on Day One, as the world's most advanced tanker. I'm pleased
to report that Boeing is meeting its commitments."
Since receiving the contract on Feb. 24, 2011, the Boeing KC-46
team has completed several major milestones, including a System
Requirements Review, Integrated Baseline Review, 767-2C PDR, and
Firm Configuration Reviews for the 767-2C and the KC-46A
Tanker.
"I'm very proud of our joint team," said Maureen Dougherty,
Boeing KC-46 Tanker vice president and program manager. "We're
drawing on the best of Boeing's industry-leading commercial
airplane and defense expertise as we design and develop the KC-46A,
which is a next-generation derivative aircraft. We remain on plan
to deliver the first 18 combat-ready tankers by 2017."
The PDR, which will ensure that Boeing's design meets system
requirements, will be followed by a Critical Design Review (CDR) in
the third quarter of 2013. The CDR determines that the design of
the KC-46A is mature and ready to proceed to the manufacturing
phase of the program.
Boeing will build 179 next-generation aerial refueling tanker
aircraft that will begin to replace the Air Force's fleet of 416
KC-135 tankers. Based on the proven Boeing 767 commercial airplane,
the KC-46A tanker is a widebody, multi-mission aircraft updated
with the latest and most advanced technology to meet the demanding
mission requirements of the future, including a digital flight deck
featuring Boeing 787 Dreamliner electronic displays and a flight
control design philosophy that places aircrews in command to
maximize combat maneuverability. The KC-46A also features a
modernized KC-10 boom with a fly-by-wire control system, and a
refueling envelope and fuel offload rate that is greater than the
KC-135 it will replace.