Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      Maj. Gen. John F. Thompson discusses the KC-46 tanker program at the Air Force Association’s 2013 Air & Space Technology Exposition Sept. 17, 2013, in Washington, D.C. During his speech, Thompson outlined continued progress in the tanker's design and acquisition timeline. Thompson is the Air Force program executive officer for tankers. (U.S. Air Force photo/Andy Morataya)Program executive officer discusses KC-46 tanker program
                        
                        
                        Maj. Gen. John F. Thompson discusses the KC-46 tanker program at the Air Force Association’s 2013 Air & Space Technology Exposition Sept. 17, 2013, in Washington, D.C. During his speech, Thompson outlined continued progress in the tanker's design and acquisition timeline. Thompson is the Air Force program executive officer for tankers. (U.S. Air Force photo/Andy Morataya)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Maj. Gen. John F. Thompson leads a discussion about the requirements of the KC-46 tanker program at the Air Force Association’s 2013 Air & Space Technology Exposition Sept. 17, 2013, in Washington, D.C. Thompson is the Air Force program executive officer for tankers. (U.S. Air Force photo/Andy Morataya)130917-F-JJ904-068
                        
                        
                        Maj. Gen. John F. Thompson leads a discussion about the requirements of the KC-46 tanker program at the Air Force Association’s 2013 Air & Space Technology Exposition Sept. 17, 2013, in Washington, D.C. Thompson is the Air Force program executive officer for tankers. (U.S. Air Force photo/Andy Morataya)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Maj. Gen. John F. Thompson leads a discussion about the requirements of the KC-46 tanker program at the Air Force Association’s 2013 Air & Space Technology Exposition Sept. 17, 2013, in Washington, D.C.  Thompson is the Air Force program executive officer for tankers. (U.S. Air Force photo/Andy Morataya)130917-F-JJ904-098
                        
                        
                        Maj. Gen. John F. Thompson leads a discussion about the requirements of the KC-46 tanker program at the Air Force Association’s 2013 Air & Space Technology Exposition Sept. 17, 2013, in Washington, D.C.  Thompson is the Air Force program executive officer for tankers. (U.S. Air Force photo/Andy Morataya)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

KC-46 progress hinges on requirements, funding stabilityPublished Sept. 18, 2013
                    
                    By Airman 1st Class Alexander W. Riedel
                    
                    
                    Air Force News Service
            **WASHINGTON (AFNS) --**An Air Force official announced Sept. 17, 2013 that production has started on the service’s new air refueling tanker, beginning with flight test aircraft.
In a presentation at the Air Force Association's 2013 Air & Space Conference & Technology Exposition, Maj. Gen. John Thompson, Air Force program executive officer for Tankers, outlined continued progress in the KC-46’s design and acquisition timeline.
Eighteen combat-ready KC-46 aircraft are slated to be made by 2017, and will eventually replace about a third of the current KC-135 Stratotanker fleet.
"The tanker crews -- pilots, boom operators, maintainers -- are conducting about 150 sorties and refueling about 450 aircraft a day, keeping the 'global' in global reach, global vigilance and global power," Thompson said.
While today’s refueling fleet has done the job, the general said a new aircraft is needed.
"The KC-135s are nearly 51-years old. It is a fantastic weapon system, but our operators and maintainers need something new and better."
In August, Air Force officials locked down the KC-46 design – an important milestone for the program.
Finalizing the design, Thompson said, represented 10 months of component and subsystem design examinations, which allowed the program to progress into its manufacturing and test phases.
The review processes benefited from commercial and Department of Defense best practices, leading to overall improvements and projected cost-savings, Thompson said.
Concurrent with preparations for the flight test phase of the program, officials are working to ensure technical performance is verified.
Lead contractor Boeing, meanwhile, is continuing to produce four test aircraft for flight testing, which is scheduled to begin in mid-2014.
Based on Boeing's 767, the first aircraft to be assembled will begin test in a 767-2C provisioned freighter configuration before undergoing modification to become a KC-46 tanker.  The second aircraft is projected to fly as a KC-46 tanker in early 2015, with an expected delivery of 179 KC-46 tankers by 2028, Thompson said.
As the process moves from drawing to metal, Thompson said the program hit a number of milestones this year, including the award of a training contract, base selection for the tanker in May, and the start of production on the first test aircraft in late June.
Assembly of the second test aircraft began in August, putting the program on track to have four test aircraft assembled by the middle of next year.
"We are 40 percent done with the development program ... and most of the requirements have been met early," Thompson said. "Our way forward is to continue with good contract execution, to prepare for and execute an efficient test program, and to develop the long-term sustainment strategy for the future KC-46 fleet."
Thompson said while there is a considerable amount of uncertainty relative to sequestration in fiscal 2014, maintaining stability and support for the program is essential to keeping the pace of the process.
"Requirements and funding stability are absolutely key," the general said. "As the number one modernization program, I'm sure (Air Force leaders) will do what they can to protect this very critical program as we go forward."KC-46

Related Links
        KC-46A Pegasus
                                Feb. 1, 2016
                                The KC-46A is the first phase in recapitalizing the U.S. Air Force's aging tanker fleet. With greater refueling, cargo and aeromedical evacuation capabilities compared to the KC-135, the KC-46A will provide aerial refueling support to Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and partner-nation receivers.
            
            JOHN F. THOMPSON
                                Oct. 2, 2014
                                Commander, Space and Missile Systems Center Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                SecAF, CSAF, CMSAF begin Indo-Pacific trip focused on ACE
                    
                    DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fightInnovation
                F-16s arrive to be modified for autonomous testing
                    
                    AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalistsMAJCOM News
                Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
                    
                    Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil