Assembly of Japan's KC-46A begins
Boeing has begun assembly of the KC-46 tanker for Japan at its 767 production facility in Everett, the company announced on 17 September.
Work has commenced with the loading of a 82.4ft (25 meter) wing spar.
Boeing is to deliver the tanker plus logistics support under a foreign military sale contract with the US Air Force awarded in December 2017.
Japan is the KC-46 programme’s first international customer. Deliveries to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) will begin in 2021. The US Air Force exercised an option for Japan’s second aircraft in December 2018.
The KC-46A is a derivative of the commercial 767-2C, a proven airframe in service as an airliner and freighter. Certified to refuel all US Air Force, US Navy and JASDF aircraft safely it can also transport passengers, cargo and patients.
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