Japan cleared for more KC-46A aerial refuelling aircraft under $4.1 billion deal
Japan already operates KC-46As and has been approved for more. (Photo: Boeing)
Japan ordered two KC-46A tanker aircraft under an FMS contract with the US Air Force awarded in December 2017. The deal was increased to six tankers with subsequent orders. Japan has now been approved for up to nine more aircraft.
The US State Department has approved the sale of up to nine Boeing KC-46A air refuelling tankers to Japan under a US$4.1 billion which includes a range of ancillary equipment.
Aside from the aircraft, the deal includes up to 18 PW 4062 turbofan engines, up to 16 AN/ALR-69A radar warning receivers, up to 33 Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasure (LAIRCM) Guardian laser turret assemblies and up to 18 LAIRCM system processor replacements.
Also included is missile warning sensors, cartridge actuated devices and propellent actuated devices, AN/PYQ-10 simple key loaders and AN/APX-119 Identification Friend or Foe transponders.
The aircraft will join a fleet of six already operated by the Japanese Air Self Defence Force (JASDF).
On 29 November 2022, the US Department of Defense announced the sale of an additional two KC-46As to the JASDF taking the number to six tankers. The 2022 contract was worth $398.2 million and the cumulative contractual value of the six tankers was $1.3 billion.
The KC-46As are operated by 405 Air Refuelling Squadron, a JASDF unit stood up in December 2020 to operate the new tankers.
Japan was the first export customer for the KC-46A, for which Japanese subcontractors produce about 16% of its airframe for Boeing.
The KC-46As can refuel Japanese, as well as American aircraft, and they supplement a quartet of KC-767J tankers already in JASDF service.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
![Eurosatory 2026: First public flight of Teledyne FLIR Black Recon reconnaissance system]()
Eurosatory 2026: First public flight of Teledyne FLIR Black Recon reconnaissance system
The drone took flight as undisclosed European customers are testing the system. Defence Insight highlights the Nordic region and existing Black Hornet users as potential early customers amid growing demand for micro-UAVs.
-
![Eurosatory 2026: The H160M’s agnostic approach to drones draws global interest]()
Eurosatory 2026: The H160M’s agnostic approach to drones draws global interest
As Airbus Helicopters advances its H160M Guépard programme towards targeted first delivery in late 2028 for the French Army, the platform’s “agnostic” approach to drone integration could offer a window into how Western militaries are rethinking the relationship between crewed rotorcraft and uncrewed systems.
-
![Why is the US Air Force refuelling tanker fleet under scrutiny?]()
Why is the US Air Force refuelling tanker fleet under scrutiny?
In a recent report, the GAO warns that delays, availability issues and operational pressure could create gaps in the USAF refuelling inventory while the branch transitions to the KC-46 Pegasus.
