Air Mobility Command approves KC-46 Centreline Drogue System
KC-46A aircrew refuel a US Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet (Photo: US Navy)
US Air Mobility Command has chalked up a new capability milestone for the KC-46A Pegasus.
US Air Mobility Command (AMC) has approved the Centreline Drogue System on the KC-46A Pegasus tanker aircraft as the first Interim Capability Release (ICR) to meet joint force air requirements.
The move follows six months of operational use of the system and programmatic evaluation and will increase capacity for tanker fleet requirements.
The ICR plan was originally announced in February 2021 to support AMC in its bid to look for ways to meet the joint force’s extensive aerial refuelling requirements, alongside the USAF progressing with tanker recapitalisation and divestiture efforts.
The USAF will continue to conduct boom air refuelling with fighter, bomber and transport aircraft for training, exercise, demonstration and familiarisation missions before formally making the capability operational.
The ICR concept provides a data-driven approach to certify these capabilities incrementally as the effort moves towards FOC.
‘ICR codifies for operational use what we’re already executing daily as the KC-46A makes progress on its initial operational test and evaluation, or IOT&E, plan,’ said Gen. Jacqueline Van Ovost, commander of Air Mobility Command in a July 14 statement.
She had also previously revealed that there is no timeline associated with the ICR plan, which instead focuses on establishing confidence measures that allows her and other senior leaders to assess ICR achievements.
FOC for ICR is however considered to still be years away.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Defence Notes
-
![Pentagon’s FY26 defence budget proposal is $130 billion more than US Congress plans to provide]()
Pentagon’s FY26 defence budget proposal is $130 billion more than US Congress plans to provide
The House Committee on Appropriations approved a FY2026 bill reducing investments in main defence programmes.
-
![What role could holographic and 3D capabilities play in the warfare of tomorrow]()
What role could holographic and 3D capabilities play in the warfare of tomorrow
Holographic and 3D technologies have been lauded by some for their ability to provide technical and operational advantages for military training and planning. But is the hype truly justified?
-
![Unfolding the Golden Dome for America: Seven things you should know about the programme]()
Unfolding the Golden Dome for America: Seven things you should know about the programme
Shephard talked to multiple experts about the most pressing concerns and considerations regarding the air defence system advocated by President Trump.
-
![Industry welcomes UK Strategic Defence Review, but pressure remains on future defence investment plans]()
Industry welcomes UK Strategic Defence Review, but pressure remains on future defence investment plans
While industry reception to the SDR has been positive, questions still remain from analyst and trade associations about what this could mean for future investment and the future UK Defence Industrial Strategy.
-
![UK Strategic Defence Review puts emphasis on autonomy, airpower and munitions]()
UK Strategic Defence Review puts emphasis on autonomy, airpower and munitions
The UK’s Strategic Defence Review (SDR) was launched as one of the first acts of the UK’s new Labour Government in June last year. The review has recommended a major big-picture reform of the country’s forces.
-
![Foreshadowing of UK defence review suggests it is light on programme details]()
Foreshadowing of UK defence review suggests it is light on programme details
The UK’s Strategic Defence Review (SDR) was designed to answer two questions: What is needed to fix UK defence and make it fit for the 2040s, and what do you get for a fixed financial profile? The SDR outlines that work still needs to be done on specifics.
